Electric shock

Milking is the single biggest job on a dairy farm. Almost half of the total annual workload on a dairy farm revolves around milking.

Where there is water and electricity, there are serious hazards and if there is contact, the risk of electrocution is high. To prevent this, electrical safety standards must be high. Always ensure that electrical equipment has the correct type of protective enclosure as indicate by its IP rating (the IP rating is a two-digit marking which indicates the level of protection against both dust and water moisture). Keep your hands dry when operating electrical switches and sockets and wear rubber-soled footwear. Always isolate electrical equipment before carrying out work.

Avoid the problems of stray voltage. Stray electricity arises because of poor electrical connections between exposed metalwork and solid earth. The elimination of these sources of stray voltage should be possible by ensuring that bonding and earthing are checked and improved, if necessary. Also ensure that no mains-operated fence earths are placed too close to other earths.

Trips and falls

Most accidents that occur on farms are as a result of trips and falls. While the injuries as a result of these accidents are often not as serious as other farm accidents they do cause injuries resulting in downtime during recovery, loss of income and increased costs. In the majority of cases, these trips and falls can be avoided by removing the hazard in the first place. In parlours, probably the biggest culprit is pipes and hoses on the ground. It is very easy to get tangled up and trip over a hose, particularly a heavy water hose. The other common cause of falls around milking parlours is slippery surfaces. Wet concrete, particularly where there are milk or chemical deposits in the water, can be extremely slippery. Rinse water from the wash cycle in a parlour should be diverted down a drain, not let run over a floor. Slippery areas should be grooved to improve grip. Some farmers place rubber mats around bends and corners to improve the grip for cows and people.

Chemical splash

There are five types of chemicals in most milking parlours. These are detergent sterilisers, acid descaler, vacuum oil, paracetic acid and teat spray. Some of these are more corrosive than others. Products with a high pH (caustic) or a low pH (acid) tend to be more corrosive and dangerous than those with a more neutral pH. Care should be taken to follow the operator instructions for all chemical products and to handle with care. Use dispensing pumps rather than tipping directly into wash troughs or jugs as this increases the risk of splashes. Always wear face and skin protection when handling corrosive chemicals.

Burnout/repetitive strain injury

This is a bigger issue than people realise, particularly after a difficult year for farming. Burnout can lead to a lack of energy, constantly feeling tired, fatigue, forgetfulness, lack of appetite, insomnia, anxiety and depression.

The causes of burnout are not just workload, but when stress, deadlines and demands outstrip reward and relaxation.

Avoiding burnout involves taking regular time off and delegating responsibility to others. This is hard to do when farmers are working on their own.

But prioritising time away from the farm, hiring contractors and relief milkers, and not getting too stressed about small things are all important ways of managing the risk of burnout.