The types of accidents can range from simple ones such as children falling off bales, to loose string from bales causing people to trip and fall and to more serious ones where an operator gets entangled in a machine, typically a baler as he is trying to remove a heavy grass blockage. Accidents linked with handling and stacking bales include people falling from bales or from the vehicles and machinery used in stacking bales. There are lots of unreported incidents where bales have fallen onto people or have been ejected from the baler or wrapper and rolled downhill causing serious accidents and injuries. Because of the nature of baling and transporting bales, there have been incidents of electrocution from work carried out on bales stacked near overhead power lines. Working with round bales in the field and when stacking requires skill. Anyone involved in bale-stacking work, including casual, temporary or agency workers, should know about safe balestacking techniques or be supervised directly by someone with this knowledge.
Moving bales
Moving bales from the field to a wrapping area can be dangerous. Use properly designed, constructed and maintained bale-handling equipment and trailers or vehicles that allow loads to be secured to them. Check that axles and tyres are strong enough to cope with the maximum loads imposed on them. Take into account the weight of any load and handling equipment attached. A telescopic handler lifting three big bales may be carrying a load of nearly two tonnes, while a trailer carrying 36 big bales may be carrying a load of more than 20 tonnes. Do not lift or stack higher than the capabilities of the handling equipment being used. And do not carry a bale or bales that obscure vision. If using spikes, it is better to use two or more spikes to ensure a bale is held securely and to reduce the risk of a bale ‘spinning’ on the spike or coming loose. Longer spikes are safer for ensuring the stability of a load but bales must be fixed securely otherwise the weight of the bales on the end of the spikes may cause the spikes to snap. Make sure that the spikes do not protrude so far through the bales that they are a danger to people. Remove fold back or cover spikes before travelling on the road and when they are not required, so that they are not a danger to people and other road users.
Moving bales by tractor
The centre of gravity is important when handling big bales, especially with a tractor front-end loader. Keep the load as low as possible — a top-heavy load could lead to a backward or side overturn. Use the tractor controls smoothly, avoiding jerky movements. Most important, do not travel too fast. Make sure there is adequate ballast on the front and rear to counterbalance the load. Insufficient ballast can make steering and braking difficult and could be dangerous in the field and on the road. Arrange the loads of bales on trailers to ensure a safe journey to the storage site. That means not overloading the trailer being aware that high loads are more likely to overturn. Secure the bales with straps or ropes and doublestrap bales at the rear, as these tend to sway the most. Plan road travel routes to try to avoid overhead obstructions, such as bridges and trees, which can dislodge loads or rip netting or sheeting off bales. Be especially careful at roundabouts, particularly mini-roundabouts, around which vehicles with loads could become unstable and watch out for steep hills and sharp turns. Moving a number of large bales at one time can cause braking, steering and stability problems. Check the load at regular intervals and after heavy braking or sudden changes of direction.
Where to build stacks
You should built bale stacks on firm, dry, level, freely draining ground, which should be open and well ventilated, away from overhead power lines and underground services. You can use stones or crushed rock on the ground beneath a stack to make it level, which may also help trap water and stop it going into the stack. Good road access is advisable if bales need to be transported to other sites. Keep non-essential people away from stacks during stacking and de-stacking, particularly when vehicles and machinery are being operated. Fence off stacks if livestock have access or if the stack is close to a footpath or boundary fence. Provide signs to warn people of the hazards from bale stacks, e.g. falling bales, fire, etc, if it is not possible to set stacks away from where the public have access.
Round bales stacking
The safest method of stacking round bales is on their sides in a pyramid. It is important to make sure that the bottom rows of outside bales are chocked or fitted with stakes or supports and that the layers are overlapped by half a bale front to end. Stacking round bales on their ends can lead to unstable stacks because inconsistent bale density allows bales to settle and shift. You should only consider stacking round bales on their ends if they are to be stored within a building. Wrapped round or square bales should be stacked according to their dry matter content.
If bales are:
Below 25% dry matter, stack in single layers;Between 25% to 35% dry matter, stack two bales high; Between 35% to 45% dry matter, stack three bales high. Take extra care when stacking and de-stacking wrapped bales as the plastic wrapping can make the bales slippery. The maximum stack height of round bales should be roughly three times the bale diameter.
Stack maintenance
Having created a good stable stack, you need to make sure it stays that way. Check the bale stacks regularly to make sure that the stack is still in good condition; especially following bad weather and that it is not in danger of collapse. Children and young people should be allowed to use the stack as a play area or den.
Children and young people
Children and young people are attracted to bales and stacks and are particularly at risk where farm machinery is being used. Prevent children and young people from playing with bales, climbing onto stacks and making dens inside them. Look for tell-tale signs of children in stacks, e.g. bales built to make a den or toys or clothes lying on bales. Do not allow children or young people to be present during stacking and de-stacking work.
The types of accidents can range from simple ones such as children falling off bales, to loose string from bales causing people to trip and fall and to more serious ones where an operator gets entangled in a machine, typically a baler as he is trying to remove a heavy grass blockage. Accidents linked with handling and stacking bales include people falling from bales or from the vehicles and machinery used in stacking bales. There are lots of unreported incidents where bales have fallen onto people or have been ejected from the baler or wrapper and rolled downhill causing serious accidents and injuries. Because of the nature of baling and transporting bales, there have been incidents of electrocution from work carried out on bales stacked near overhead power lines. Working with round bales in the field and when stacking requires skill. Anyone involved in bale-stacking work, including casual, temporary or agency workers, should know about safe balestacking techniques or be supervised directly by someone with this knowledge.
Moving bales
Moving bales from the field to a wrapping area can be dangerous. Use properly designed, constructed and maintained bale-handling equipment and trailers or vehicles that allow loads to be secured to them. Check that axles and tyres are strong enough to cope with the maximum loads imposed on them. Take into account the weight of any load and handling equipment attached. A telescopic handler lifting three big bales may be carrying a load of nearly two tonnes, while a trailer carrying 36 big bales may be carrying a load of more than 20 tonnes. Do not lift or stack higher than the capabilities of the handling equipment being used. And do not carry a bale or bales that obscure vision. If using spikes, it is better to use two or more spikes to ensure a bale is held securely and to reduce the risk of a bale ‘spinning’ on the spike or coming loose. Longer spikes are safer for ensuring the stability of a load but bales must be fixed securely otherwise the weight of the bales on the end of the spikes may cause the spikes to snap. Make sure that the spikes do not protrude so far through the bales that they are a danger to people. Remove fold back or cover spikes before travelling on the road and when they are not required, so that they are not a danger to people and other road users.
Moving bales by tractor
The centre of gravity is important when handling big bales, especially with a tractor front-end loader. Keep the load as low as possible — a top-heavy load could lead to a backward or side overturn. Use the tractor controls smoothly, avoiding jerky movements. Most important, do not travel too fast. Make sure there is adequate ballast on the front and rear to counterbalance the load. Insufficient ballast can make steering and braking difficult and could be dangerous in the field and on the road. Arrange the loads of bales on trailers to ensure a safe journey to the storage site. That means not overloading the trailer being aware that high loads are more likely to overturn. Secure the bales with straps or ropes and doublestrap bales at the rear, as these tend to sway the most. Plan road travel routes to try to avoid overhead obstructions, such as bridges and trees, which can dislodge loads or rip netting or sheeting off bales. Be especially careful at roundabouts, particularly mini-roundabouts, around which vehicles with loads could become unstable and watch out for steep hills and sharp turns. Moving a number of large bales at one time can cause braking, steering and stability problems. Check the load at regular intervals and after heavy braking or sudden changes of direction.
Where to build stacks
You should built bale stacks on firm, dry, level, freely draining ground, which should be open and well ventilated, away from overhead power lines and underground services. You can use stones or crushed rock on the ground beneath a stack to make it level, which may also help trap water and stop it going into the stack. Good road access is advisable if bales need to be transported to other sites. Keep non-essential people away from stacks during stacking and de-stacking, particularly when vehicles and machinery are being operated. Fence off stacks if livestock have access or if the stack is close to a footpath or boundary fence. Provide signs to warn people of the hazards from bale stacks, e.g. falling bales, fire, etc, if it is not possible to set stacks away from where the public have access.
Round bales stacking
The safest method of stacking round bales is on their sides in a pyramid. It is important to make sure that the bottom rows of outside bales are chocked or fitted with stakes or supports and that the layers are overlapped by half a bale front to end. Stacking round bales on their ends can lead to unstable stacks because inconsistent bale density allows bales to settle and shift. You should only consider stacking round bales on their ends if they are to be stored within a building. Wrapped round or square bales should be stacked according to their dry matter content.
If bales are:
Below 25% dry matter, stack in single layers;Between 25% to 35% dry matter, stack two bales high; Between 35% to 45% dry matter, stack three bales high. Take extra care when stacking and de-stacking wrapped bales as the plastic wrapping can make the bales slippery. The maximum stack height of round bales should be roughly three times the bale diameter.
Stack maintenance
Having created a good stable stack, you need to make sure it stays that way. Check the bale stacks regularly to make sure that the stack is still in good condition; especially following bad weather and that it is not in danger of collapse. Children and young people should be allowed to use the stack as a play area or den.
Children and young people
Children and young people are attracted to bales and stacks and are particularly at risk where farm machinery is being used. Prevent children and young people from playing with bales, climbing onto stacks and making dens inside them. Look for tell-tale signs of children in stacks, e.g. bales built to make a den or toys or clothes lying on bales. Do not allow children or young people to be present during stacking and de-stacking work.
SHARING OPTIONS