The third chapter in our series on Agribusiness Safety will cover the safe operation of machinery.

Acute Safety and Safety offers high-quality, physically distanced workplace health and safety training including Agribusiness safety training. We are celebrating our 25th anniversary in 2020. Join the many thousands we have trained over the years. Register here today.

Now let’s take a closer look at how to operate machinery safely in your Agribusiness.

Here are links to all the chapters in the series:

Chapter 1: Personal Protective Equipment
Chapter 2: Guidelines For Use of Chemicals
Chapter 3: Operating Machinery
Chapter 4: Preventing Fires
Chapter 5: Tips for Buildings and Structures
Chapter 6: How ACUTE Can Help

Learn about the guidelines surrounding Agribusiness safety when operating machinery

Agribusiness Safety: Guidelines for Machinery Operation

If you run or work in an Agribusiness, then it’s important to make sure you understand and follow Agribusiness safety guidelines. Agribusinesses include businesses such as:

• Farms
• Companies involved in AgroSciences
• Animal Feed companies
• Biofuel companies
• Grain transport and processing companies
• Farm machinery producers
• Farmer’s cooperatives

Read on to learn more about important Agribusiness safety guidelines for machinery.

1. Get Proper Physically Distanced Training:

Machinery can be dangerous if it is operated without the proper training. In order to protect your workers, you need to make sure that you only allow authorized and properly trained employees to use the machinery in your Agribusiness.

If you need to get training for yourself or your workers, Acute Safety Services can help. We can provide you with the proper training for your employees who work with machinery. We can customize a course to meet your particular requirements and we can perform physically distanced training either at our world-class training facility or we can come to your place of business; whichever your prefer. Contact us today to learn more.

Agribusiness Safety: ACUTE can give you and your staff the physically distanced training you need to stay safe

2. Have Operator Manuals Available:

You need to have a copy of all of your operator manuals as well as any relevant safety materials kept on file in your main/branch/field office so that you and your operators have easy access to them when needed.

3. Regularly Check Your Equipment Before You Use It:

Both before and after you use any equipment, tools, and vehicles, you need to properly check them to make sure that they are in good operating condition and that all of the fluid levels are correct.

4. Keep Your Equipment Well Maintained:

Make sure that your equipment is regularly maintained and serviced according to its maintenance schedule. Any defects need to be reported to your supervisor immediately.

Agribusiness Safety: Keep your equipment well maintained

5. Never Remove Shields or Guards:

If your equipment has any shields or guards, these need to stay on your equipment and never be removed unless they need to be replaced.

6. Properly Store Your Equipment:

Once you have finished using any equipment or tools, you need to properly and safely store it away in it assigned location so that it can’t be accessed by an unauthorized person.

7. Properly Store Your Keys:

Any keys to your machinery need to be removed from your machinery once you have finished with it and stored away in a safe and secure place that has been previously specified.

8. Operate Machinery with the Safety of Others in Mind:

You should also operate your machinery not only thinking of your own safety, but the safety of others nearby. Always be aware of the location of any other workers in your area when you are operating agricultural machinery.

Agribusiness Safety: Be aware of others working around you

9. Wear Proper Personal Protective Equipment:

Whenever you operate machinery you need to make sure that you wear the proper personal protective equipment such as:

• Hard hat: if you are doing construction work, trimming trees or other tasks that could cause a head injury
• Acoustic ear muffs: if you are operating noisy farm machinery or power tools where noise levels exceed 85 decibels
• Gas mask or Chemical Respirator: if you are applying pesticides or ammonia fertilizers
• Safety glasses, goggle, or full-face protection: if there is a risk of flying objects, particles, liquids, sprays or other matter entering your eyes
• Apron, coveralls, or full rain suit: if you are spraying liquid pesticides or other dangerous chemicals
• Protective chaps or leg protection: if you are using a chainsaw

Agribusiness Safety: Wear the proper PPE when operating machinery

Agribusiness Safety: Supervisor/Employer Responsibilities

Employers should always check references of employees to find out what their qualifications and experiences are in relation to machinery operation before you allow them to operate your machinery (e.g., valid driver’s license, proper training)

Supervisors and employers are responsible to make sure that all machinery and equipment are safe and that workers are in compliance with established safe work practices and procedures.

You must make sure that all of your machinery operators receive adequate training in their specific work tasks so that you are protecting them in with their health and safety.

Agribusiness Safety: Worker Responsibilities

You must protect your own health and safety by following the guidelines for safe work practices and procedures established by your employer. It is in your best interest to consider your own health and safety while operating machinery in your workplace.

Are You an OABA Member? Contact ACUTE for Training

If you are a member of the Ontario Agri Business Association (OABA) then you can contact Acute Safety & Safety Services to provide you with the training that you need to meet your obligations set out in federal and provincial health and safety legislation.

The OABA has partnered with ACUTE to give its member access to the expanded resources and training services that ACUTE can provide you to ensure your success with the health and safety compliance programs.

To book safety services including training, inspection, audit, and consulting, you can contact Acute Safety & Safety Services either:

By Phone: 519-747-5075 or
By Email: info@acuteservices.com

Would you like to hold staff safety training at your own location? Click here to learn more.

How ACUTE Can Help with Training

ACUTE offers a wide range of training courses that you can either take at our Waterloo, Ontario training facility or we can come to your location and provide the training you require.

The following is a list of some of the training courses that we provide, however if you prefer, we can also develop customized training for you that is based on your particular needs as an OABA.

Confined Space Entry-(attendant/entrant 8 hours)
Confined Space Rescue-(non-entry/entry 8 hours)
Working at Heights-(8 hours)
Elevated Work Platform-(scissor/boom 8 hours)
Forklift-(8 hours)
Telehandler-(8 hours)
Overhead Crane-(8hrs)
Spill Response-(8 hours)
Transportation of Dangerous Goods-(8 hours)

Lockout/Tagout Awareness-(4 hours)
Personnel Protective Equipment-(PPE4hours)
Canada Labour Code Part 2-(4 hours)
Supervisory Due Diligence-(4hours)
Machine Guarding Safety-(4 hours)
Occupational Health & Safety Act & Regulations-(4hours)
Confined Space for Management (never go into confined space – 4hrs)
WHMIS 2015 GHS-(2 hours)

Our safety training sessions include both in-class theory and practical hands-on training. We will also supply you with the training guide, quiz, various visual aids, certificates of training, and wallet cards.

Trust ACUTE for the Best Agribusiness Safety Training

ACUTE’s experienced team members have been serving safety professionals for over 20 years. You can trust ACUTE for hands-on, practical Agribusiness safety training to keep your employees safe. ACUTE is dedicated to workplace safety and understands the importance of course and training provider approval. Why get workplace safety training with ACUTE? Here are just some of the benefits of working with ACUTE.

• Open Door Instructor-Student Partnership – ACUTE’s training services emphasize client participation. Staff foster relationships with clients and serve as a touchstone for advice anytime moving forward.
• Serving Your Team and Industry – With a vast array of clients in manufacturing, construction, health, academic, and government sectors, ACUTE brings the best safety practices from across the spectrum to your workplace.
• 100 Years Combined Experience – ACUTE provides comprehensive health and safety training, on-site safety services, and consulting services. With over 100 years of combined experience, our company staff offer more than theoretical or abstract ideas.  ACUTE offers solutions.
• Track Record of Success – ACUTE is rated 4.9/5 stars on Google reviews, demonstrating a commitment to our clients, quality, and passion for training.

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