PRE 16 WORK EXPERIENCE – HEALTH & SAFETY PREPARATION
AGRICULTURE BASED WORK PLACEMENTS
SECTION 4 GUIDELINES
Section 4 of the Work Experience Health and Safety Preparation Programme of Study, “Specific
Significant Risks associated with High Risk Placements” says that the school is responsible for making
sure that young persons are taught:
a) to recognise Specific Significant Risks and the Control Measures applicable to the employment
sectors which are by their very nature High Risk Occupations;
b) to understand the importance of complying with any control measures to minimise a specific
risk identified as part of the employer’s Young Persons Risk Assessment;
before they attend a work placement.
These guidelines set out the minimum requirements in terms of the significant risks and their associated
control measures.
Specific Hazard
Identified
Animals
Control Measures for Hazard
Containment, fences and
crushes in good condition
including milking parlour etc.
Exits possible from working
around an animal
Trained and competent
personnel
Moving vehicles e.g
tractors, trailers, cars,
fork lifts, harvesting
equipment, quads,
other agricultural
equipment
© Cornwall Council
Drivers have clear observation
and are aware of procedures on
someone approaching vehicle.
Pedestrians segregated from
areas such as turning areas or
from vehicles reversing with
limited visibility.
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Additional controls for the young
person to make sure the risk is
adequately controlled
Young person supervised at all times.
Young person not permitted in close
confinement with large animals e.g. bulls,
bullocks, cows with young, sows.
Young person advised of any other
potentially aggressive animals and
segregated from these.
If young persons are to be in contact with
small animals they must be advised on
risks from crushing, biting, kicking e.g.
methods of approach and escape.
Young person is fully supervised.
Young person is instructed on vehicle
procedures including unsafe areas hidden
from view.
Young person is segregated from vehicles
during specified procedures e.g. reversing
vehicles and not used as a banksman.
Employees aware of main
vehicle routes and procedures
on approaching vehicles.
Vehicles e.g. tractors,
trailers, cars, fork lifts,
harvesting equipment,
quads, other
agricultural equipment
Speed limits in force and signs in
evidence where necessary
Inspection prior to use.
Trained and competent drivers.
Young person fully supervised.
Safe and secure seat/s with seat
belts.
Clear workplace conditions
reducing risk of over turning or
collision.
Machinery and power
tools e.g. PTO’s,
conveyors, chainsaws,
milking equipment
Height of vehicle and position of
overhead, on ground or under
ground cables or other obstacles
known.
Suitable and sufficient guarding.
Machinery maintained in safe
condition
Isolation procedures used when
performing intrusive work e.g.
repairing, unblocking,
disconnecting / reconnecting.
Controls clearly labelled and
emergency stops in good
condition.
Special training provided on use.
Fire
Clear signs where appropriate.
Fire extinguishers where
appropriate.
No naked flames permitted near
to LPG tanks, bale or grain
stores, fertiliser stores etc.
Falls and falling objects
Bales etc not stacked at height
near to overhead power lines.
Bales or other items where
stacked are secured and not
prone to collapse.
Walking under suspended loads
not permitted e.g. walking under
forklift with load.
© Cornwall Council
Young person is not permitted to drive
any vehicles even if they hold a licence.
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Young person only permitted as
passenger where the vehicle has been
designed to seat a passenger.
Young person made aware of risks of and
from machinery e.g entrapment, expelled
objects.
Young persons must not use any tools
driven by mains electricity (even 110 volt)
air, fuel or explosive cartridge. They can
use battery powered tools but must be
given relevant training.
Young person segregated from and not
permitted to use dangerous machinery.
Young person provided with full
instruction and training on use and risks
of machinery they will be working on or
near.
Young person instructed on fire
procedures and hazardous areas e.g.
stores.
Young person should not use fire fighting
appliances.
Young person instructed on procedures.
Young person not permitted to work
above 2m fall height.
Young person advised on conduct in
certain areas e.g. Bale stacks, care to be
Ladders and gantries maintained
and secure and have appropriate
hand rails.
Electricity
General workplace in good
condition
Electrical systems in good
condition.
Repair work carried out by
competent person.
Portable appliance leads etc in
good condition.
taken on newly scraped yard as can be a
slippery surface etc.
Young persons not permitted to
undertaken electrical repairs or
maintenance.
Young persons aware of cable locations
near working area e.g. overhead cables,
trailing cables.
Residual current devices used.
Manual handling
Employees aware of cable
location near working areas.
Manual handling eliminated
where possible.
Employees aware of lifting
techniques/measures to reduce
risk of injury.
Guns/ explosives
Weather
Chemicals
Young person to lift only objects that are
within their acceptable capabilities by
testing the object first.
Instruction on correct lifting techniques to
be provided.
Lifting equipment in good
condition and fit for purpose e.g.
wheelbarrows.
Firearms properly stored and
restricted to trained personnel.
Lifting equipment/dual lifting to used
where possible.
Explosives appropriately stored
and controlled.
Employees aware of risks e.g.
sunburn, cold/hot weather.
Young person not involved with work
requiring explosives or firearms.
Young persons instructed on need for
protection against elements especially
when working outdoors.
Personal protective equipment
e.g. waterproofs, Wellingtons.
All chemicals e.g. pesticides,
fertiliser, milking parlour cleaning
agents etc and veterinary
medicines appropriately labelled
and stored.
Young person not permitted contact with
firearms or explosives.
Personal protective equipment used.
Young person instructed on chemical
hazards.
Young person not permitted to use or
handle hazardous chemicals e.g. sheep
dipping.
Restricted access to chemicals.
Chemicals used under controlled
conditions e.g. closed system.
Biological agents/ dust
e.g. animal diseases,
parasites, vermin, ring
worm, dust from pig
feed, dust from poultry
© Cornwall Council
Provision and use of personal
protective equipment
Advice given on appropriate
hygiene and risks of biological
agents so can inform doctor
should symptoms occur.
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Young persons not involved in use of
syringes.
Young person instructed on appropriate
hygiene measures.
Young person given advice on risks of
biological agents and symptoms.
feed
Workplace kept in condition to
reduce infestation where
possible.
Dust controlled where possible
through appropriate
ventilation/storage.
Young persons segregated from diseased
animals.
Special considerations including minimal
exposure for those with medical
conditions e.g. asthma and allergies.
Provision of personal protective
equipment e.g.dust masks,
goggles.
Farm buildings and
structures
Special consideration of those
with medical conditions e.g.
asthma and allergies.
Structures maintained in good
condition.
Entry restricted to insecure
buildings or structures e.g. old
farm buildings with rotten
timbers.
Young persons not permitted in
dangerous areas e.g. in or on insecure
buildings or structures, on fragile roofs,
ceilings or gantries.
Liquid/fluid storage e.g.
slurry tanks/pits,
reservoirs, tanks, wells,
troughs/ grain silos
Signs, warnings where
necessary.
Young persons instructed on dangers and
advised of location of storage.
Areas suitably segregated and
guarded.
Confined spaces e.g.
feed silos, pits, tanks
Suitable access/egress.
Young persons not permitted to work in
the storage areas. Must be made aware
of where they may be at risk of ‘falling in’.
Young persons not permitted in confined
spaces
Hygiene/welfare
Lone working
Noise
e.g. pig sheds at
feeding time
Controlled cleaning/filling
procedures.
Toilet, washing and eating
facilities provided in good
condition
System in place to check on lone
workers.
Ear defenders provided and
worn when working in a hearing
protection zone.
Pig shed marked as a hearing
protection zone.
© Cornwall Council
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Young person needs to be made aware of
possible irritation from use of cleansing
agents.
Young person is not permitted to work
alone and must be under supervision at
all times.
Young person must be provided with
Personal Protective Equipment