The NAAC and NFU in the UK have joined forces to produce a checklist for both farmers and agricultural contractor firms.
The aim is to allow both parties to “work together to ensure that work is carried out safely and efficiently”.
According to a joint statement, farmers can use this checklist when implementing and communicating the actions and responsibilities of each job to the contractor.
Agricultural Contractor
A spokesperson for the NAAC said:
“It is vital that contractors and farmers have a close relationship, not only to make the partnership a financial and productive success but also to keep everyone safe; the new checklist offers a useful tool to support this.”
Below, you will find the guidelines that the bodies have issued to farmers. In a separate article, we will look at guidelines for agricultural contractors.
It reads as follows:
The farmer must provide the contractor with: Clear and detailed instructions on the operation(s) to be carried out by the contractor (ideally using maps and in writing).
This should include:
- Access points and one-way systems
- Location of hazards on a map e.g., overhead power lines, underground services/ hazards, areas out of bounds, members of the public/public footpaths, shared access routes, boundaries, steep slopes/ manhole covers, bridge strengths if applicable, livestock hazards
- Location of drains and watercourses
- Secure areas where children may be playing or where there is a risk children may stray
- Environmental designations, wildlife, or constraints
- Specific instructions relating to farm assurance/ government schemes
- Location of first aid facilities
- Location of firefighting equipment
- Information about the location of other workers, contractors, and visitors on site
- Details of welfare facilities if provided (or the contractor is providing their own)
- Contact details and procedures in an emergency.
Other articles on That’s Farming:
‘Annual combine harvester running cost of €70,000/season plus VAT’
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