SUMMER 2019 FARM FIRE SAFETY THE OF SAFETY SOW SEEDS ‘You must tell people on your farm whether there is a possibility that dangerous substances are involved in a fire’ Keeping your farm safe from fire requires you to be aware of the risk factors, and to take action to reduce them Farm fires are on the increase, so – to avoid becoming a statistic – owners should be aware of the causes. Most farm fires involve stacked or bailed crops, while around half of all fires are set deliberately. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to farm buildings where people work, including packing sheds, milking parlours, barns, holiday lets and farmhouses used for bed and breakfast. Fire safety is your responsibility and, as a business owner, you must do a risk assessment. If you employ five or more people, you are required, by law, to record the significant findings. Dangerous substances You must tell people on your farm – including workers, firefighters and other emergency services personnel – if dangerous substances might be involved in a fire. They will need to know the location of bottled gas, especially acetylene and LPG, and be told of the presence of bulk diesel or petrol, slurry, other animal waste, guns and munitions, or asbestos in the building fabric. You should have material safety data sheets for all chemicals used on your farm, such as ammonium nitrate fertilisers, sodium chlorates, pesticides, or any other agrochemicals and poisons. If more than 25 tonnes of any dangerous substance is stored, you must display a relevant hazard-warning symbol. Dangerous Oxidising Flammable Toxic Corrosive Compressed substance agent liquid substance substance gas Fire box Consider installing one of these at the entrance to your property. It should contain information such as the location of water supplies (hydrants/open water), a map of the land, livestock on site, and details of hazardous materials storage. Where and how to stack bales Select a site away from potential fire hazards and sources of ignition, and allow sufficient space for tractors and other vehicles to manoeuvre. Assess whether the stack needs to be fenced off; if the public are allowed access to the field via a footpath, consider signage to warn people to keep away. Do not build stacks under or within 10 metres of overhead power lines, or over underground services such as gas pipes, water mains and fire hydrants. Ensure they are 10 metres from each other and away from buildings. This will prevent any fire from spreading and allow workers to manoeuvre between them safely. If possible, multiple stacks located together should be in line with the prevailing wind. Don’t locate stacks near public access points or roads, to avoid fire risk from discarded cigarettes, littered glass and arson. Ensure combustible materials – such as fertiliser, fuel and vehicles – are stored well away, and keep bale-elevator engines free of straw and other debris. Do not allow smoking near stacks, be aware of spontaneous combustion, and do not carry out works near a stack that could cause a fire. Children should not be allowed to play on or near stacks. If you plan to do any kind of controlled burning, contact your local fire service first. In the event of fire Don’t attempt to fight the fire unless it is safe to do so. Call the fire and rescue service immediately. Give the full address, including the postcode, and explain the nature of the fire, listing any chemicals that could be involved. Tell the operator if fire engines may have difficulty reaching the location or accessing water supplies on site. If possible, send someone to the farm entrance to direct emergency services. Clear access routes to the fire by moving any machinery or vehicles. Move livestock if necessary – or be prepared to move them in case the fire spreads. Make yourself known to the fire crew and answer any questions they have. For further advice about farm fire safety, consult your insurance company or local authority. Credit: Dave Hodgkins, lead for partnerships and technical fire safety, West Midlands Fire Service Image: iStock / Georgeclerk / Bet_Noire Completing a fire-safety risk assessment Step 1: Hazards Identify sources of ignition – such as welding or grinding equipment, damp hay, naked flames, munitions, poorly serviced electrics or smoking – and flag up dangerous substances, including chemicals, fertilisers, poisons and asbestos. Assess sources of fire fuel; this includes anything that could burn, such as petrol, diesel, gas, hay and straw. Step 2: People at risk Consider who is at risk from a fire, including anyone living near your farm buildings, your workers, young people, firefighters, and other emergency service personnel responding to a fire. Step 3: Evaluate, remove, reduce and protect from risk This could involve installing smoke and heat alarms, firefighting equipment, escape routes, lighting, signs or notices, or carrying out maintenance on electrics and equipment. Step 4: Record, plan, inform, instruct and train Record significant findings and the action you have taken, even if you’re not required by law to do so. Prepare an emergency plan, and inform anyone who might be affected. Give training to those who may require it. Step 5: Review Review your risk assessment on a regular basis and make changes if required. ARSON RISK CHECKLIST Signal crime l Is there a history of vandalism or fire setting in the area, and is trespass a problem? Storage l Is hay and straw removed from the field as soon as possible after harvesting? l Is it stored separately from other farm buildings – particularly those housing fuels, agrochemicals and machinery – and from livestock housing? l Is it stored in stacks of reasonable size, spaced at least 10 metres apart? Security l Are petrol, diesel and other fuels stored in secure areas, and are fuel-storage tank outlets padlocked? l Are fertilisers and pesticides kept under lock and key? l Is the security of farm buildings maintained at all times, and is there security lighting? l Do the farm buildings have intruder alarms with a monitored link to an alarm-receiving station? l Is refuse disposed of safely and on a regular basis? Fire safety management l Are unoccupied areas of the farm checked regularly to ensure they are safe and secure, and that there is no unnecessary accumulation of combustible materials? For further information, please contact your local Trading Standards Service