Machinery Safety
According to the Health and Safety Authority, farming is one of the most dangerous occupations in Ireland. Safety is a key factor that must be taken into consideration when working on the farm. Machinery and vehicles are the main causes of farm accidents.
Agricultural machinery should be operated only by competent and fully trained people. The operator should be totally familiar with all the controls and operating procedures of the machinery. One of the most commonly used pieces of machinery is a power take-off (PTO) drive shaft.
PTO shafts are the source of power for many machines that are attached to a tractor and powered by the tractor’s engine.
When the PTO is in operation, it must be totally enclosed by the guard which should be undamaged and match the shaft in both length and size. When attaching any machine to a tractor, take precautions to prevent getting crushed.
FRS offers training safety courses on a range of agriculture and horticulture courses. The purpose of the tractor driving course is to equip the learner with the relevant knowledge, skill and competence to operate a tractor in compliance with recommended standards, European Union (EU) and Irish legislation and good farming practice.
Farmers and operators should do their walk around checks before operating the machine to make sure that they have sufficient amounts of fuel, that lights are all working, check the tyre pressures, check the machine for oil and water and also make sure that the brakes are in good working order. They should check for any hydraulic leaks and make any necessary repairs
Machine Used on a Farm
Plough
Plough
Used to turn the soil over and break it up. The circular discs on the plough cuts the soil and the mouldboard turns over the sod. This important operation involves totally burying vegetation and surface matter while at the same time turning up fresh soil to the air and weather.
Harrow
Harrow
This operation prepares the seedbed by loosening, breaking up and levelling the soil to produce a Firm, Fine, Friable, stone Free seed bed.
Splash Plate
Splash Plate
Applies slurry to fields. The splash plate is being replaced with low emission slurry spreader (LESS) systems that are more environmentally friendly and efficient. Trailing shoes apply slurry closer to the soil surface and reduces losses to air.
Rollers
Roller
This involves firming in the seed, pressing down stones and sealing in moisture to promote germination of seeds.
Potato Harvester
Potato Harvester
Machines that lift, clean and sort potatoes in one operation.
Tedder
Hay Tosser/Tedder
Hay making involves drying grass with sun and air movement. These machines speed up the process.
Sprayer
Sprayer
They are precision machines for applying Liquid Fertiliser, Herbicides, Fungicides and Insecticides to combat pests & diseases.
Mower
Grass Cutter
Grass is cut in Summer to preserve it as silage or hay for Winter feeding. A mower/conditioner cuts the grass and squeezes it between rollers to release moisture and speed up drying.
Bailer
Bailer
For transport, storage and feeding, the cut grass is packed into bales. If grass is not fully dried to hay, then it is wrapped in plastic to make silage or haylage (dryer than silage but not as dry as hay).
Combine Harvester
Combine Harvester
A large complex expensive machine that cuts, thresh, separate seeds from straw and clean the seed in one Combined operation (hence their name). Used to harvest wheat, barley, oats, rapeseed, linseed, beans.
Grass Topper
Grass Topper
Is the operation of cutting seed stems from grazed fields. Topping stimulates new leafy growth making pasture more nutritious and palatable.
Forage/Silage Harvester
Forage/Silage Harvester
Are machines that chop the grass and blow it into trailers for taking to the silage pit.