With temperatures expected to further rise over the next few days, farmers and agricultural contractors are being urged to take every possible precaution to minimise the risk of machinery fires.

The warning comes as the harvest begins and the silage seasons continues apace.

With the warm dusty conditions, it’s essential operators go that extra step in ensuring machines are running cool to prevent overheating and the dreaded risk of fire.

During periods of extreme heat, friction caused by dry grass, straw or chaff coming into contact with worn or faulty bearings and belts can generate significant heat.

Daily machinery inspections and routine maintenance are therefore essential to help prevent fires.

Regular greasing of machines is paramount to keep temperatures down in bearings and other moving parts.

Remember, any rotating part has the ability to create enough heat to cause a fire if it is not lubricated properly.

Blow down machines

Although not the most pleasant of jobs at the end of a long day, it is essential that machinery is blown down. The build-up of crop residue, chaff and twine on machinery – particularly near hot components – also presents a serious fire hazard.

Machinery manufacturers are advising users to thoroughly blow down their machines with an air hose at the end of each working day and – during dry conditions – to do so frequently throughout the day.

When blowing down machinery, pay particular attention to filters, bearings, the ends of rollers and slip clutches, where debris can easily accumulate.

Blow out the machine’s cooling pack, engine and back end every evening too to help improve cooling and reduce the risk of fire.

Depending on the application and machine temperatures, radiators may have to be cleaned out twice or three times daily.

Machine repairs

When machines are working hard, naturally breakdowns may occur. If a machine breaks down in the field, great care is required to make sure that any risk of fire is reduced. If welding, grinding or using a cutting torch on machinery during hot weather, take extra care. Remove all chaff, straw and other combustible material from the work area before starting the task.

It is strongly advised to carry a fire extinguisher on tractors and other machinery if one is not already fitted as standard. Ensure that all fire extinguishers are fully charged, serviced and readily accessible.

In the case of fire

If a fire ignites and gets out of hand, do not attempt to control it. Personal safety must always come first.

Once started, baler fires will quickly ignite, engulfing the entire machine and there may not be any time to detach the machine from the tractor. Above all, personal safety must remain the priority.

Consider how easily the fire brigade and emergency services could locate your farm in an emergency. Make sure farm signage is visible and your Eircode is known to help emergency services pinpoint your location, this applies particularly to remote areas.

Operator safety

When working in these warm conditions, we are all under pressure to get through heavy workloads. Something we are all guilty of is not looking after ourselves first. It is very important to drink lots of water and stay hydrated.

Long working days tend to accompany good weather, but it is important to be well rested and fresh each day.

With the strong sun, it is important to keep covered up or to wear sun screen with a high factor. If the operator is a smoker, it is very important to make sure that all cigarettes are fully extinguished and discarded in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.