Covid-19: recommendations for farmers

As we enter the active agricultural season, we would like to remind you that it is imperative for farm managers and employees to follow all prescribed precautions to avoid exposing themselves, colleagues, their families and farms to the risk of disease. The Farmers' Council has compiled recommendations on how to organize work while minimizing the spread of the disease.

Basic recommendation: Direct contact should be avoided as much as possible and extra precautions should be taken in places frequented by different people, such as a diesel filling station.

Cabin hygiene:

Tractor cab hygiene should be a priority.

If possible, employers should designate one specific person to work with one specific piece of equipment.

If this is not possible on the farm, the cabin of the technical unit must be cleaned by an employee wearing protective clothing and using personal protective equipment.

Regularly wipe down all door handles and controls. If possible, treat with disinfectant.

Ask employees to touch surfaces/open doors with their non-dominant hand, which will be less likely to touch their face.

Try to avoid relying on gloves. Unless they are changed frequently, it is better to make frequent hand washing a priority.

Companies should consider the possibility that employees may need to self-isolate. Given this, we recommend ensuring in advance that several employees are able to handle complex machinery and equipment. When solving problems related to training, maintain a safe distance from colleagues and cooperation partners.

Risk prevention measures

Ensure that you and your staff are fully informed and take all necessary precautions to reduce the risk of infection or spread of the virus.

It is worth considering the following:

Encourage employees to work from home whenever possible. Office workers should be equipped to work remotely. Access to offices and workshops should be strictly restricted to those employees who work in that location. Ensure that surfaces are clean and that hand washing/hand disinfection facilities are available to staff.
Limit visitors to your farm base area - if necessary, post notices and restrictive signs.
Ensure that delivery drivers are at least 2m away from any farm workers. Request that delivered parts, etc. be left in a safe place.
Close off the work area/spaces to avoid any close contact, keeping access to toilets/restrooms only.
If someone at work becomes unwell, develops a cough or fever, they should go home immediately.
Employees should be reminded to wash their hands frequently and for at least 20 seconds with soap and running water. Use disposable tissues for coughing or sneezing, which should be thrown away immediately after use.
Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces frequently using standard cleaning products.
Make sure all employees have received the latest instructions.
Employees will need your support to follow the self-isolation recommendation.
Employees from certain risk groups should be strongly advised and encouraged to stay home.
Ask your subcontractors to avoid contact with you and your staff whenever possible, ideally by coordinating remotely before work begins. All safety risks, locations, work site and job requirements should be fully explained to the client prior to arrival.
Ask your partners/employees to inform you of any family or staff members who have contracted the virus or are self-isolating. This will ensure that all parties maintain social distancing and do not unknowingly put anyone at risk.