Creating your 'Safety Portfolio'
Tilly Pass has been working with other agricultural industry experts forming a safety group to talk about the importance of carting root crops. By working together we have created a trusted source of shared information, covering all aspects of safe towing, giving farmers and contractors a clear understanding of essential requirements for operators and users to have access to an up-to-date 'farm safety portfolio'.
What root will you be taking?
​Maintenance:
Inspections and record keeping are required to meet the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regs 1992 (PUWER) regulation 6 along with the new British Standard 14200/2023.
Tilly Pass is an accessible way of meeting these requirements with on-farm inspection, service and a central database. Your inspection documents can be added to your Safety Portfolio.
Manufacturer's daily checks should always be accessed, used and recorded as you 'Head to Tow' - download the free safety app on the app store today.
Hear what the industry experts say
Suffolk Constabulary
DVSA
"This month will see the start of agricultural machines travelling across East Anglia carting root crops. Having a good understanding of the weights and speeds of your combination is vital, good visibility around the vehicle, displaying a number plate, working lights and the appropriate use of an amber flashing beacon. Trailer weights are set at 18.29 tonnes with a tractor not exceeding 12.71 tonnes this makes a combination of 31 tonnes train weight.
A tractor and trailer should not tow faster than 25mph/40kph.
Load security is vitally important, trailers should be sheeted if fully loaded or sufficient ullage so the load cannot fall. Items such as sugar beet can cause damage to vehicles or collisions from drivers swerving to avoid when falling off trailers. Police will enforce these laws but also educate drivers with the aim to reduce incidents and casualties on the roads."
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Load security spokesperson "The DVSA published published the revised version of the load security guidance in July 2023 the requirements to sheet loose loads which seems to have caused some issues within the agricultural sector. The requirements to do this were already in the previous version of the DFT code of practice but we did make it more explicit in this update due to some high profile incidents where people had lost their lives due to loads bouncing off the back of trailers.
The fundamental requirement to sheet loose loads has not changed since a loose load does present a danger to other road users if the load is not restrained in some way. The only concession we will be making will be circumstances when the load is assessed (by the user) to be sat sufficiently low enough in the trailer to the extent that it is secured by the structure of the vehicle i.e. the vehicle sides, front and rear without the need to cover the load.
Our approach to enforcement will not change, our examiners will take action when they assess that the load, and the way it is secured (or not as the case may be) presents a danger to other road users irrespective of what a driver/operator risk assessment states."
Risk assessments
Tilly Pass Engineering Safety Consultant Steve Simmons-Jacobs says "As our workplace changes with the seasons it's essential that new hazards are assessed and this could not be more relevant than at the start of the root crop season.
Making a risk assessment around this or indeed any hazard is an essential part of everyday agriculture. Making sure that the right person is making and sharing these risk assessments is also essential and that person must have the appropriate qualifications, knowledge and experience to take this responsibility this should then be part of every business's 'safety portfolio'.
Yellow Wellies Farm Safety Foundation
The Farm Safety Foundation have recently launched a brand new resource - The Little Book of Farm Safety - which includes a special chapter on Transport. Issues covered include trailer safety and trailer brakes, two areas that can be often overlooked. Given that moving vehicles has been the cause of an average of seven deaths every year on farms over the past five years according to the HSE, trailers and their brakes should never be overlooked and given the same level of attention as the tractor itself.
https://www.yellowwellies.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/LittleBookOfFarmSafety_1stEdition_0624.pdf
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HSENI
Health and Safety Northern Ireland - With Northern Ireland recognised as one of the most important produces or potatoes along with other root crops it's essential that operators and users access the correct safety information to help protect themselves as they move into the root crop carting season.
For all farms, whater the size, a 'Safety Portfolio' is an essential part of farming in a professional and responsible way. To access essential safety information, visit HSENI's Workplace Transport on our website:
https://www.hseni.gov.uk/topic/workplace-transport
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Cymru Farm Safety
It's important to remember to check the vehicle and trailer conditions before use, ​from ATV to a larger tractor and trailer. All loads must be secured from bales to feed.
'Towing safely is everybody's responsibility to ensure the safety of all road users.
Dwech i ni gyd gwenud gwahaniaeth (let us all make a difference)'
British Sugar
"British Sugar prioritises safety throughout our operations and supply chain, from farm to factory. We work together with a number of stakeholders, including the DVSA and police forces within the beet growing area to ensure that we are setting high standards within this area.
Every year, we remind hauliers transporting beet loads into the factory of safe loading guidance, and work hard to make sure all of our industry partners are aware of any changes.
We are exited to be part of the Root to Success campaign to help share best practice and make sure we can all look forward to a safe and successful campaign this year"
NFU Mutual
Leading rural insurer NFU Mutual campaigns and advises on rural road safety: https://www.nfumutual.co.uk/campaigns/rural-road-safety/
Andrew Chalk, rural road safety specialist at NFU Mutual, gives this advice:
"We always remind people to respect the importance of rural roads to the agricultural industry, but at the same time farmers and contractors need to respect the right of other people to enjoy the countryside safely - and the Highway Code makes it clear that those vehicles which can do the most harm must take the most responsibility for keeping roads safe.
As well as regular maintenance of trailers and vehicles and carrying out checks before heading out, farmers need to adapt their driving when towing. Remember that trailers will swing out when turning so indicate in plenty of time, and plan your routes to minimise disruption.
Likewise, traffic build-up can be dangerous, so allow vehicles to pass when it's possible and safe to do so.