Feed Central general manager Cieran Maxwell said the video focused on the safe movement and receival of hay, with important safety tips on unloading, stacking and storing of hay.
Mr Maxwell said hay safety sometimes was an overlooked risk.
“There are a number of people injured or killed every year from incidents with hay bales,” he said.
“Forgetting or even letting some of the basic safety essentials slip can cause devastating results.
“Young families with children need to treat a haystack like a swimming pool; you have to be safe around it.”
Mr Maxwell said this era of high-density balers and heavier bales increased the importance of safety.
“With high-density bales now consistently ranging between 550 and 750 kilos, if a bale falls on you from any height, you’re unlikely going to survive.”
He said the video highlighted the need for checking truck loads before removing straps and good practice in moving bales, building stacks and storing bales.
“It’s an area of concern. Any movement of hay bales is risky but when dealing with multiple bales coming off trucks, everyone in the vicinity is further exposed to a higher risk.”
Mr Maxwell said farmers, contractors, employees, families and children needed to be aware of safety around hay bales.
“If stacks aren’t made right, falling bales can be extremely dangerous; in this video we talk about getting it right from the start and from the ground up.”
He said the “look up and live” message about power lines could equally apply to a shed with hay bale stacks.
Mr Maxwell said the more solid bales were made, the safer they were to work with, but that of course relied on the consistency of quality, well-shaped, tight bales.
The video was prepared for Hay Safety Day (October 25) and is available at: www.feedcentral.com.au/hay-safety-day-2021
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