National Hay Safe Day 2017

National Hay Safe Day 2017

Media Release

19 October 2017

National Hay Safe Day, a day focusing on safety in the hay and silage industry, is on Wednesday October 25. In the lead up to National Hay Safe Day, the Australian Fodder Industry Association (AFIA) is asking everyone involved in the fodder industry to run through the “Make sure your workplace is HAY SAFE” checklist every day with all of your all workers/operators and family members.

With the 2017 fodder harvest already underway, that often means people working long hours resulting in fatigue and when this happens it’s all too easy to overlook or forget about safety and this can have disastrous consequences.

It can only take a split-second for something to go wrong and put the safety of a business owner, employees, family members or the public at risk. That’s why AFIA is asking everyone involved in making and transporting hay and silage to take the opportunity to run through the “Make sure your workplace is HAY SAFE” checklist every day.

That checklist includes:

  • Machinery is securely shutdown before maintenance occurs.
  • Adequate safety guards are fitted to machinery.
  • Fire extinguishers and first aid kits are functional and located close to baling operations.
  • Prominent signage warning of the dangers of falling bales clearly displayed in hay sheds.
  • Prominent signage warning of the dangers of moving vehicles displayed in hay sheds.
  • Warning signs clearly displayed on all machinery.
  • Plant operators are familiar with relevant safety procedures.
  • All caution lights and reversing alarms are operational on machinery.
  • Dry flammable crop materials are regularly removed from build-up areas on machinery.
  • Operators are familiar with changing work environments and possible hazards such as power lines and poles.

Remember work health and safety is everyone’s responsibility, and we want everyone to take on the Hay Safe Day messages, making safety a focus and helping to prevent accidents from happening in your hay or silage business.

If you would like a copy of our “CAUTION! Be Aware of Falling Bales” poster on email to print out and place around your workplace, please email John at AFIA [email protected] or click this image to download a copy.

Don’t forget to share your National Hay Safe Day initiatives and thoughts on AFIA’s social media platforms, via Twitter @AusFodder and Facebook @Ausfodder

National Hay Safe Day is the initiative Suzanne Woods an AFIA member, Director, fodder grower and hay exporter from Calingiri in Western Australia. Tragically on October 25, 2009, Suzanne lost her father in an accident on their farm.

For more information on safety in the Australia fodder industry please contact the AFIA office on (03) 9670 0523 or visit www.afia.org.au

Media Contact:

John McKew
Chief Executive Officer
W: (03) 9670 0523
M: 0438 182 600
E: [email protected]