The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors of Ireland (FCI) and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) have issued clarity surrounding the safe operating procedure when it comes to silage pit working heights.

In a joint statement, both parties recommend that silage pit height should never be more than twice the height of retaining walls and should slope at less than 45°.

The statement said: “This is a particular risk in 2021 as grass of high moisture content is being ensiled. This material is prone to create pit splitting, creating an additional risk when silage pits reach excessive heights.

“Where a clamp is being built with no retaining walls, the side slopes of the clamp should also be kept at less than 45°. The working width for rolling the silage across the top of any clamp or pit should be at least three times the full tyre width of the loading/pit rolling machine.”

Increased volume

Such issues are believed to be a result of larger volumes of grass being ensiled due to increased cow numbers and as fodder reserves for shortages due to weather.

This increased volume of grass being cut in most cases results in higher pits, leading to potentially dangerous working heights, placing vehicle operators and others working on these pits at risk of serious injury.

Because of the huge variations in slab and pit sizes, the condition of retaining walls, the moisture content of the silage and type of equipment used to roll the pits, it is difficult to give a definite safe maximum silage pit loading height.

Both sides concerned recommend a competent person to take all of these factors into consideration when determining the silage pit loading height.

“The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) specifications for silage pits retaining wall specifications are designed to withstand the pressure exerted by silage filled to twice the height of the retaining walls where the side slopes are less than 45°.

“The loading of silage pits to this extent should be avoided. In addition, it is difficult to get good compaction above wall height, as the rolling pressure is not acting against a solid confinement element such as a retaining wall.”

The statement concluded in saying that operators of such rolling equipment must ensure the stability and safe operation of their machinery to prevent loss of control or overturning.

Where pits are full beyond limits and grass still needs to be lifted, baled silage should be considered as an alternative.