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Farm safety items covered in TAMS II

Safety first

There are a number of safety items covered in TAMS II. The scheme offers 40% grant aid and 60% (for young farmers) to cover the cost of certain investments. Here we will take a look at some of the safety items that are covered.

Animal Handling Facilities

42% of all farm accidents (fatal and non-fatal) involve livestock. Many farmers have suffered serious injuries while attending cows at or post calving. The grant covers many safe livestock handling facilities and equipment such as calving gates and crushes.

Slurry Facilities

The TAMS II scheme provides an ideal opportunity to improve slurry handling facilities. Replacement of damaged slats or removal of existing internal agitation point and replacement by gang slats are included under the grant, as well as safety agitation platforms, safety manhole covers for fully external tanks and protective fences for slurry stores.

Roller Doors

Hinged (swinging) doors have the potential to be a major safety hazard, especially in areas that are subject to heavy winds. Under TAMS II, you can claim grant aid on the replacement of a hinged or sheeted door with a new sliding door or roller door. The doors can be operated manually or electronically with the aid of a remote.

Hydraulic Motor

A hydraulic motor permanently fixed to the machine to replace the PTO shaft is a safety item that has been recently added to TAMS II.

Devices have been developed which allow for the removal of the PTO shaft from machines such as slurry tankers in order to make them safer. The basic design removes the shaft which connects the tractor’s PTO to the tanker’s pump, which is the most dangerous part of the system due to its speed of rotation.

A hydraulic motor is fitted in place of the PTO shaft which is powered by the tractor’s hydraulic system through a double-acting spool valve. The oil flow is delivered through the spool valve to power the motor and is then returned to the tractor via the bottom spool valve.

Wheel changing crate

Due to the potential hazards that are associated with changing tractor tyres without adequate wheel changing equipment, the wheel changing crate has been added to TAMS II and has been a popular option under the Tillage Capital Investment Scheme.

Rewiring

A farmer can receive grant aid under TAMS II for the rewiring of an existing shed. Applicants can also avail of grant aid for farmyard lights that are a minimum 200W equivalent, either metal halide or LED.

Safety Cages

It is now a requirement to have safety cages fitted underneath all clear roof lights on all new sheds constructed through TAMS II. You can now also retrofit existing roof lights with safety cages.

Additional safety items covered under TAMS II

  • Safety rails on silo walls
  • Wheel pumping crate - manual pumping
  • Wheel pumping crate - fully automatic

With the aid of a TAMS II grant, farmers can target areas that are a safety concern around the farm.

For further information on applying for the TAMS II grant visit www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/tams.

Check your farm insurance policy to keep your farm safe.

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