WorkSafe has issued a warning on slide pulsators after a recent death in a milking shed.
Jeff Bolstad died on July 27 in Morrinsville, Waikato, when his clothing became entangled in the rotating bar of a slide pulsator.
WorkSafe’s investigation manager Paul West said WorkSafe is recommending the dairy industry reassess its use of slide pulsators.
“WorkSafe is in the early stages of investigating the circumstances, but already has enough information to urge caution.
“We are extremely concerned about the risk posed by exposed moving parts on slide pulsators, and urge farmers to check if their set-up is safe or bring a specialist in for advice,” West said.
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, there is an obligation for businesses to manage their health and safety risks.
“For farmers, this means to either ensure slide pulsators are safe, substitute them for an electronic pulsator, install safeguarding to prevent access to any moving parts, or remove them. PVC tubing used on some farms is unlikely to provide enough protection to eliminate the risk and meet the required guarding standards.
“The risk of clothing entanglement is real, and steps need to be taken to manage that risk. Any rotating shafts that can catch clothing or body parts need as much protective guarding as possible, or to be replaced,” West said.
Executive officer at the Milking and Pumping Trade Association (NZMPTA) Maria Scott said it advises farmers to ensure that all moving parts in their dairy shed are identified and protected appropriately, and detailed in their Risk Management / Hazards Plan.
Retrofit guards are available for purchase and farmers should contact their milking equipment provider for advice on guarding, Scott said.
The joint Australia/New Zealand Standard SF-041 Safety of Machinery governs the safety and standards of such equipment.
“A major manufacturer of mechanical slide pulsators advises that, for the past couple of years, all new pulsation systems that they install themselves leave the factory with guards – and that from now on, all third party purchases of their mechanical slide pulsators will include cover guards for the installer to fit on farm,” Scott said.
