Drownings generally account for 10% of all fatal farm accidents. The unfortunate thing about accidents with water and slurry is that they are often fatal; near misses are less common. Children and visitors to farms that are unaware of the risks are equally at risk of drowning as people who live and work on farms all day every day, with efforts extending to protecting all.
There are two key ways to prevent drowning: identify the risks and mitigate them as much as possible.
Identifying risks
Slurry pits: poorly fenced or unfenced slurry stores (open tanks and lagoons) pose a significant risk to both people and livestock. Agitation points that are left open or unlocked also pose a risk.Watercourses: Rivers, streams and ponds on farms can be deceptively dangerous, with hidden hazards and unpredictable currents. Farmers operating in hill areas where there are unfenced watercourses are particularly at risk.Dipping tubs/footbaths: dipping tubs, be they in use or not, pose a risk to human life, particularly children due to their depth. Even footbaths with their shallow depth can be fatal to children. The chemicals used in both dipping tubs and footbaths can be potentially harmful to humans if skin contact or accidental ingestion occurs.Mitigating risks
Slurry pits: ensure open slurry stores are properly fenced using non-climb netting and that any holes that may form through damage or wear and tear are properly repaired. Creating a tyre ladder in lagoons is also a good idea. Agitation points should be kept closed at all times when not in use and should ideally be locked to prevent access by unauthorised persons or children. TAMS aid is available for safety fencing and agitation points around uncovered slurry stores, as well as the installation or replacement of slats on existing stores.Water courses: keep watercourses fenced off from livestock for safety and environmental reasons where at all possible. In times of heavy rain, keep livestock away from fields with open watercourses to reduce the risks to both them and you. Dipping tubs and foothbaths: keep footbaths and dipping tubs drained when not in use. Where this is not achievable, a safety grid should be installed to prevent accidental entry. Dipping and footbath solutions should be properly disposed of.
Sheep dipping.
Drownings generally account for 10% of all fatal farm accidents. The unfortunate thing about accidents with water and slurry is that they are often fatal; near misses are less common. Children and visitors to farms that are unaware of the risks are equally at risk of drowning as people who live and work on farms all day every day, with efforts extending to protecting all.
There are two key ways to prevent drowning: identify the risks and mitigate them as much as possible.
Identifying risks
Slurry pits: poorly fenced or unfenced slurry stores (open tanks and lagoons) pose a significant risk to both people and livestock. Agitation points that are left open or unlocked also pose a risk.Watercourses: Rivers, streams and ponds on farms can be deceptively dangerous, with hidden hazards and unpredictable currents. Farmers operating in hill areas where there are unfenced watercourses are particularly at risk.Dipping tubs/footbaths: dipping tubs, be they in use or not, pose a risk to human life, particularly children due to their depth. Even footbaths with their shallow depth can be fatal to children. The chemicals used in both dipping tubs and footbaths can be potentially harmful to humans if skin contact or accidental ingestion occurs.Mitigating risks
Slurry pits: ensure open slurry stores are properly fenced using non-climb netting and that any holes that may form through damage or wear and tear are properly repaired. Creating a tyre ladder in lagoons is also a good idea. Agitation points should be kept closed at all times when not in use and should ideally be locked to prevent access by unauthorised persons or children. TAMS aid is available for safety fencing and agitation points around uncovered slurry stores, as well as the installation or replacement of slats on existing stores.Water courses: keep watercourses fenced off from livestock for safety and environmental reasons where at all possible. In times of heavy rain, keep livestock away from fields with open watercourses to reduce the risks to both them and you. Dipping tubs and foothbaths: keep footbaths and dipping tubs drained when not in use. Where this is not achievable, a safety grid should be installed to prevent accidental entry. Dipping and footbath solutions should be properly disposed of.
Sheep dipping.
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