Keeping your farm equipment in good condition is a vital part of maintaining a safe operation. Performing regular inspections and routine maintenance ensures your equipment is in safe working condition and can prevent incidents. Employees should not operate any equipment that is not in safe condition.
Employees must keep safety in mind while performing maintenance on the equipment. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for specific maintenance requirements. Anyone completing maintenance on equipment must be competent to do so and have a good understanding of the safety precautions required. Some key safety considerations when completing maintenance include:
- Locking out all forms of energy. Remove the key or disconnect the power to prevent accidental start-up. You must also chock wheels, block raised parts of equipment and put hydraulic cylinder locks in place to prevent parts of the equipment from moving or falling down.
- Use proper PPE. This may be gloves, hearing protection, eye protection or other types of PPE. If there may be flying debris, splashing chemicals or other potential eye hazards, eye protection must be used. When there is a risk of cuts or if you are touching hot surfaces, gloves are needed. Do not use gloves around rotating parts or in an area where there is a risk of entanglement.
- Keep guards in place. If guards are removed for maintenance, put them back in place.
Take time to consider what can go wrong during the maintenance task. For example, look for belts that can snap, hot liquids or chemicals that can splash and parts that may be heavy or awkward and could cause a sprain or strain. Ensure tools are in good condition and your work area is safe and tidy. Clean up spills and other messes and follow ladder safety practices if working on a ladder.
Fatigue management
At different times throughout the year, employees may be working additional hours and therefore fatigue may become a safety concern. Being fatigued can drastically increase the potential for injuries. Working when extremely fatigued can be more dangerous than working under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Employees and managers should plan ahead as much as possible and where possible prepare for the busy times. When working longer hours, employees should take these steps to prevent fatigue.
- Be aware of signs of fatigue including “zoning out,” difficulty remembering or thinking clearly, struggling to make decisions, being extra clumsy or increased errors in judgment.
- Pay extra attention for signs of fatigue during early morning or late-night tasks.
- Do everything possible to get enough sleep. Go to bed at a decent time and try to get seven hours of sleep. Take steps to try to ensure a restful sleep by limiting screen time before bed, for example.
- Eat regular, healthy meals and stay hydrated (preferably with water). Avoid consuming excessive caffeine or sugar, as this may give a quick burst of energy but the energy will be short-lived.
- Take breaks when possible. If you become tired while working, take a break and stretch for a couple of minutes. If fatigue affects the ability to do your job safely, speak to your manager.
- When possible, rotate tasks to reduce monotony. If someone is working alone, check in on them.
Remember, if you are too tired to safely perform a task, do not continue. Communicate the problem to someone and ask for help right away.
