Safety with fertiliser spreading

If not already applied, many farmers will be spreading their first round of fertiliser over the coming days and weeks.

Unfortunately, for many, this coincides with the peak period of labour demand – be that cows calving on dairy and suckler farms, ewes lambing on sheep farms, or the commencement of spring cropping on tillage farms.

As part of a recent Signpost Series webinar, Teagasc Health and Safety Specialist, Francis Bligh offered some key advice on mitigating the risks to health and safety when it comes to the handling and application of fertiliser.

The first point Francis made was farmers should question do they have sufficient time to spread fertiliser themselves, or would hiring the services of a contractor to complete this task be a more suitable option.

For farmers who have sufficient time, he advised them to plan in advance, adding: “Make sure your machines are well maintained, that they are attached correctly and if there is any maintence required that it is done before you start doing the work.”

Francis also touched on the skill and knowledge of the operator when it comes to spreading fertiliser, noting the competence is a key element of safety.

Fertiliser type

An additional health and safety consideration, he explained, is the type of fertiliser you purchase, or more so the way it is packaged.

“Consider bulk or big bag options; it can reduce the need for manual lifting of the 50kg bags; but when you start increasing the weight, you change the risks, so you are dealing with different risks when you have heavier weights.”

On this, farmers were reminded to be vigilant of damaged bags, as “they can cause sudden movement and collapse.

“When the fertiliser starts to seep out of the fertiliser bag, the centre of the bag changes and it can move. It can allow other bags that are surrounding it or above it to move also. It is important to consider that, to think about that and to be aware of it and to always have your eyes open for it,” Francis said.

The Health and Safety Specialist also touched on the appropriate way to empty bulk fertiliser bags, adding: “It is recommended not to cut from the base of the bag, just cut a little bit above the base or to the side of the base, 15cm above the base in an X. There is a large number of different types of knives available that mean you don’t have to be reaching in underneath to allow the fertiliser to come out.”

For farmers opting for smaller 50kg bags of fertiliser, Francis noted that inappropriate handling or lifting techniques can raise the risk of injury and really these should be lifted by two people rather than one. When these bags are purchased, they should be stored at waist height to reduce the requirement to bend down when lifting and manual handling techniques should be practiced when moving these bags.

Watch a recording of Francis’ presentation as part of the Signpost Series webinar.