Risk Assessment and Safe Operating Procedure Development Report

This report delves into the critical aspects of workplace safety within the agricultural sector, with a specific focus on harvesting activities. It begins by emphasizing the importance of a systematic approach to risk management, including task analysis, risk assessment, and the development of safe work procedures to minimize injuries. The report highlights the use of these processes in the context of harvesting, where machinery and other hazards are prevalent. The core of the report includes a review of risk assessment, task analysis, and safe work procedures, providing detailed examples and appendices. These appendices include a risk assessment form, a task analysis, and safe work procedures tailored for harvesting operations. The report concludes by reiterating the significance of these safety measures and their applicability to other areas with similar risk exposures, offering valuable insights for farm management and worker safety. References and appendices provide the necessary background and data for the analysis.

Risk Assessment and Safe Operating Procedure Development 1
Risk Assessment and Safe Operating Procedure Development
Name
Institution
Date

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Risk Assessment and Safe Operating Procedure Development
Introduction
In the agricultural sector, just like any other industrial section, workplace injuries are
common and something that should be considered with excellent planning. Agricultural; sector is
majorly associated with heavy machines and other risky working areas that need workers to take
a lot of caution. The most important thing for the farm management is therefore to adopt a
systematic way to control and manage the risks that workers are exposed to (Rodgers et al., 2017
p.19). There are many ways to manage the risks in the agricultural sector. The most important
ones for this matter is completing task analysis, completing risk assessments for the job, and
developing and following safe work procedures.
One of the areas that need such systematic ways in the agricultural sector is the
harvesting time. By engaging the three processes, the farm management is able to minimize the
fatal injuries that workers can be exposed. In the rural agricultural workplaces, which for this
case are the farm, harvesting requires a lot of attention which calls for such measures (Schettino
et al., 2017 p. 11). It is from this that the Work Safe rules state that management of such issues
and potential injuries is crucial for the farm management. In this report, the various issues that
will be addressed include risk assessment review, safe work procedures, and risk analysis review
as it is in the harvesting areas.
Review of Risk Assessment, Task Analysis, and Safe Work Procedures
Since the agricultural sector is a risky industry for both the workers and management,
safety management systems are a crucial approach into the management of potential injuries. The
process of assessing the risks, analyzing the risks that might potentially be experienced by the
workers and setting up procedures for the safety during harvesting is crucial for any farm

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(Karvinen & Nummelin, 2015, p. 17). Throughout the processes, the potential risks are first
identified along with the issues that might cause them and then analyzed under the perspective of
the extent of injuries they may be bring. After this, a procedure to controlling and minimizing the
same risks is set up so as to help reduce such instances from happening (Keifer et al., 2019, p.
125). An alternative response procedure is also necessary for the sake of the aftermath if at all
these injuries are sustained during the harvesting time. The documents dictating all these are set
out so as to identify the issues that might be necessary for the same management. These
documents also need to be used and referred to in the right way so as to reduce these fatalities.
Risk Assessment
Appendix 1 presents the potential risks that may be experienced in the harvesting areas.
Task analysis
Appendix 2 presents the analysis of risks that have been assessed in the previous section.
Safe work procedures
Appendix 3 provides the safe work procedures for risk management.
Conclusion
Generally, this report features the significance of managing workplace safety in the
agricultural and to be specific in the harvesting areas. It covers the issues of assessing potential
risks, analyzing the same risks, and guideline procedures to controlling and minimizing the same
fatalities and injuries from the risks. The documents in this report provide key points on the three
sections on risk management and can be relied on to any other area with the same risk exposure.

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References
Rodgers, A., Morgan, K.L. and Harri, A., 2017. Technology adoption and risk preferences: The
case of machine harvesting by southeastern blueberry producers. Journal of Food Distribution
Research, 48(856-2018-3092), pp.1-21.
Schettino, S., Campos, J.C.C., Minette, L.J. and Souza, A.P.D., 2017. Work precariousness:
ergonomic risks to operators of machines adapted for forest harvesting. Revista Árvore, 41(1).
Pp. 3-32
Karvinen, S. and Nummelin, T., 2015. Finnish wood harvesting contractors' risks in Russia. Pp.
11-47
Keifer, M., Sammen, J., Hoare, L. and Harrington, M., 2019. At Work in the Woods:
Occupational Hazards of Harvesting Non-Timber Forest Products in the Pacific
Northwest. Journal of agromedicine, 24(2), pp.125-128.

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Appendix 1
Risk Assessment
Students name:
Company name:
Work area: farm (harvesting)
Form completed by: student
Date form completed:19/10/2019
Hazard identification
Harvesting more so in regard to machinery use poses physical risks to farmers due to the use of
machinery in harvesting.
Risk assessment
What is the harm the hazard could cause:
The machines used during harvesting may cause physical accidents to the farmers.
Silages during harvesting may cause collision and overturn risks.
Unmaintained silage walls may collapse during harvesting
What is the likelihood of this happening:
The likelihood of these risks happening are very high since farmers have to deal with machines
when harvesting hence poor risk management may increase the likelihood of the risks.
Persons at risk: farmers and any other workers performing the harvest.
Existing control measure: training of workers on safety measures
Control measures
Ensuring the harvest is fully prepared and machines are well maintained.
All individuals not directly involved in the harvest process should be put away.

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All machinery used should be pre-checked before harvesting
Silage walls and pits should be well maintained.
Review scheduled review date: 19/10/2019
Are the risk control measures in place?
Are the controls minimizing the risk?
Are there any new problems with the risk?

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Appendix 2
Task analysis
Task: harvesting
Date of task analysis: 2/12/2019
Steps of task: What can go wrong What to do about it
Before the harvest Physical injury to workers
when preparing machinery
Ensure that the machinery is
prepared with caution
Ensure that workers dealing
with the machinery are
competent on how to prepare
them.
Supervise the workers when
preparing the machinery.
During the harvest Accidents resulting from
machinery breakage.
Accidents from overfilled
silages
Endure that the machines are
regularly checked during the
harvest.
Ensure that the workers take
ample breaks in-between the
harvests.
Supervise the harvest to
ensure that the workers are
competent and following
safety rules.

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Ensure that the silages are not
overfilled.
After the harvest Physical risks on workers
working in the firm resulting
from collapsing silage walls.
Ensure that the silage walls
are well maintained.
Constant supervision to ensure
that the farm and machinery
are well maintained.
Task analysis approved by:
Name: signature:

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Appendix 3:
Safe work procedures
Task: handling machinery in farms
Steps Procedure
Before harvesting Ensure that all the machines are greased,
sharpened and prepared well before the
harvest.
Ensure that all the machines required are
provided to avoid machine overload.
Ensure that all the workers are trained and
competent.
During harvesting Ensure that the workers are wearing protective
gears.
Supervise the workers when operating
machines.
Ensure that the machines are checked during
breaks.
After harvesting Ensure that the machines are cleaned and
stored appropriately.
Ensure all risk that may result from the
chemicals and machines used are discarded.

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Name: signature:
Review date: 2/12/2019