Fixed Plant

Fixed plant is the stationary machinery on a dairy farm — the rotary or herringbone dairy, milk vats, vacuum and milk pumps, feed augers, and effluent, water and irrigation pumps. 

The hazards

Fixed plant brings many hazards: moving parts, electrical hazards, chemical exposure, hot or high-pressure fluids, working at heights, confined spaces, animal movement, manual handling, dust and noise. Exposure has caused fatalities and serious, long-term injury. Poor design, inadequate installation and insufficient maintenance can worsen these hazards and add new ones such as collapse, fire and explosion. 

Manage the risk 

• Design safety in early — including safe design at the planning stage avoids costly retrofitting later, 
• Use safe procedures — establish safe work and operating procedures, and a process for reporting faulty equipment (see Standard operating procedures),
• Inspect regularly — check equipment and installations for damage, and 
• Train and supervise — give people the training, instruction, information and supervision to work safely.