Water is not generally something farmers think about when it comes to hazards around the farmyard.

Open slurry pits, uncovered PTO shafts and farm machinery are all obvious dangers. However, water can be dangerous too.

Any quantity of water collected in farmyards or watercourses should always be respected and treated with caution. This caution should be heightened when children are present.

Every farmer should spend time identifying the possible water hazards on the farm and think about ways of preventing an accident occurring.

Most of the time simple precautions can be taken to reduce risks. The key is to be aware of the dangers.

Unfortunately, something very simple like an uncovered water barrel can be fatal in certain circumstances. Below we have identified some common water safety risks on farms. When you are aware of the dangers, you can take steps to reduce the chances of an accident.

Building work

Water can be an issue during building work on farms, especially when excavation work is being carried out.

Even if this work is being carried out during the summer months, it doesn’t mean water cannot still be an issue.

On many farms, holes for new slurry tanks have filled up with water without any rainfall. Underground springs can quickly fill them during or after digging.

Farmers should be careful that they do not fall inside the hole if they are pumping the water out. The hole could be 6ft to 8ft deep – deeper than the deep end of a swimming pool.

Unlike a swimming pool, lifeguards won’t come to the rescue if you fall in. The danger does not go away when the tank is installed – water can flood the void between the tank walls and the earth. This will not be safe until backfilling is carried out.

What’s more, rainwater can gather inside the tank and, until the slats or pre-cast hollow core floor is installed, water is a danger.

During building, consider erecting a fence and signage to notify people of the dangers and keep children out of harm’s way.

Watercourses and ponds

The best advice is to keep away from the edge of riverbanks, pools and ponds. The exact edge may not be visible because of grass and reeds. Children are most vulnerable around watercourses and ponds. Make sure they are supervised in areas where water is present.

If it is possible, fence off ponds or fill them in to reduce the risks. Small children can drown in very shallow ponds, even deep puddles – they cannot be taken for granted.

Manholes and rainwater harvesting

Uncovered manholes pose a significant threat. An adult can easily trip/fall over an uncovered manhole but small children could fall in depending on the size.

If there is an uncovered manhole on your farm, take immediate action to cover it.

Subsequent action should be taken to cover the manhole permanently with a secure cover that children cannot easily open.

Rainwater barrels should also be covered and try to ensure children do not have access to them. These two rainwater harvesting steel containers below were fitted with a steel mesh to prevent children from climbing inside.

This is a prime example of spotting a hazard and taking steps to reduce the risk of an accident.

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Special focus: water and septic tanks