What Happened?
This Safety Alert has been issued to urge caution when working around mechanical pulsators in milking sheds, following a fatal incident where a farmer's clothing became entangled in the rotating bar of a slide pulsator. WorkSafe is still investigating the fatality. There is no indication the farmer intentionally reached into any part of the machinery.
How should we respond?
The industry is advising caution around slide pulsators. Slide pulsators in milking sheds have a rotating drive shaft which may be slow, but is incredibly powerful due to the reduction gearbox. The risk of entanglement in machinery is real. Take the necessary steps to manage that risk.
Key Lessons
- Take a look around your farm and identify where you or your team can be exposed to moving machinery. Remind your team of the danger any rotating shaft on farm can expose.
- Any rotating machinery should have protective guards on it, even if it's routinely out of reach. Consider covers and sleeves over moving parts.
- Speak to the manufacturer if you are unsure what guarding to use.
- Review what is deemed as safe clothing with your team – clothing that won't get caught in machinery.
- Ensure kill switches or e-stops are located in an easily accessed location and are well signposted. Do you need a pull cord with electric kill switch?
- Don't wait, take steps now.
