THE MEMBERSHIP MAGAZINE OF THE BRITISH AGRICULTURAL AND GARDEN MACHINERY ASSOCIATION ISSUE 30 | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
Behind closed doors The members of BAGMA Council share the stories of their careers in the sector
THE FUTURE OF APPRENTICESHIPS | T LEVELS UPDATE | TILLAGE LIVE 2021
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IN THIS ISSUE
As supply chain shortages rumble on, BAGMA is looking towards the future
ISSUE 30 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
BAGMA President Peter Arrand discusses the ongoing supply chain issues but remains stoic over how it will impact the Ag sector COMMENT
PETER ARRAND PRESIDENT BAGMA IN MY LAST column I talked about the labour shortages several industries were beginning to witness, particularly the haulage sector. Obviously, this has continued as we see more industries effected. The haulage sector is well aware of the skills and labour shortages and the challenges around this but we can see this now affecting so many other industries in our daily lives. One of the problems emerging is a global shortage of computer chips. It’s reaching crisis point for some, with analysts predicting that the situation will not improve until 2023. The shortage in microchips, the ‘brain’ within every electronic device, has been getting increasingly serious since the start of pandemic. The arrival of Covid-19 initiated a huge surge in purchases of electronic devices as people stayed home and required additional technology and so invested more in this type of goods. Initially the problem was only a temporary delay in supplies as factories shut down when the pandemic first hit. However, it was further impacted as some ports temporarily closed, leaving goods stranded in containers not able to be shipped. This has also been compounded by the microchip manufacturing plants in the world The membership magazine of the British Agricultural & Garden Machinery Association Editor Emily Bridgewater 07875 678855 emily.bridgewater@bira.co.uk Design Alan Bingle 07949 024737 alan@forty6design.com All advertising and media enquiries please email: keith.christian@bagma.com
being impacted by adverse weather events. One case springs to mind: Japan's Renesas plant suffered fire damage, and yet it produces around one third of the world’s car industry requirements. Winter storms in Texas also halted production in the US’s only chip-producing plants, while droughts in Taiwan also caused problems. Several manufacturing companies halted orders for semi-conducters and microchips as they predicted they would not be producing goods such as cars at current levels; they rightly assumed there would be a worldwide downturn in demand. However, now the supply chain is struggling to keep up with the surge in fresh demand. There is a lot of interest in this subject within our industry at the moment and we will wait and see how it affects the sector and our customers – and for how long. It is that time of year when most businesses are creating – or rolling out – their business plans for next year and BAGMA is no different; BAGMA Council met in September and November to discuss such matters. In this edition of the BAGMA Bulletin you will get to meet some of the members of the Council who give up a tremendous amount of their free time and work extremely hard, for which I cannot thank them enough. Please let me take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2022. I look forward to catching up in the New Year.
BAGMA, Samuelson House, 62 Forder Way, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8JB. 01295 713344 bagma.com BAGMA president Peter Arrand BAGMA director Keith Christian 07823 416849 BAGMA business development manager Richard Jenkins 07432 290605
BAGMA BULLETIN NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
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NEWS Update on the future of apprenticeships, tractor regs plus all your sector news
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COVER STORY We find out about the diverse backgrounds of the members of BAGMA’s Council
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EXPERTS' VIEW How to ensure directors’ duties are met
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BIODIESEL What you need to know, and what’s changed
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OUT & ABOUT BAGMA’s business manager gets out and about at Tillage 2021
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LEGAL How to investigate an accident or incident in your workplace
Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the material published in BAGMA Bulletin. BAGMA can accept no responsibility for claims made by manufacturers, advertisers or contributors. Views expressed by advertisers or contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher or of BAGMA. Advertisers in BAGMA Bulletin are not agents of BAGMA or any of their associated businesses. Also, BAGMA and its associated businesses never act as agents for any advertisers. Printed in the UK by Stephens & George.
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BAGMA NEWS
BULLETIN BOARD
HUSQVARNA NAMES ITS TOP DEALERS AT AWARDS
Husqvarna announced the three winners of its annual dealer awards.The winners were as follows: Automower Dealer of the Year 2021 was Somerset-based Automower Specialist, Landpower Robotics; Battery Dealer of the Year 2021 was R.T Machinery, based in near Aylesbury; and Forestry Dealer of the Year 2021 was arboricultural equipment specialists, Honey Brothers Ltd. Husqvarna sales manager Stephen Irvine,said: “We’d like to say a huge 'well done' to all dealers that were shortlisted, and a massive congratulations to our three winners.”
NEW NATIONAL SALES MANAGER APPOINTED AT AMAZONE
Amazone Ltd has appointed Matt Smith as its new national sales manager. With a B. Eng. in Agricultural Engineering from Harper Adams University College, the company said Matt comes with a wealth of experience gained in the agricultural industry having cut his teeth with one of their own dealers during those years of education. He also spent time within the Househam Sprayers organisation, fulfilling various roles there before ending up as territory sales manager. He then moved to Horsch UK where he took up a role in specialist sales. An Amazone spokesman said: “We are delighted to have Matt on board as national sales manager and to be able to utilise those skills gained to the benefit of Amazone customers around the country.” Matt will take over the day-to-day running of the agricultural sales division as well as building on the company’s relationship with their national key accounts in support of their territory managers at local level.
GET BACK ON THE ROAD WITH BAGMA BANK
BAGMA and Birmingham Bank are very pleased to announce that the BAGMA Bank brand has now been adopted by Birmingham Bank in a new agreement to promote the Bank services to BAGMA members. One of the many services and benefits BAGMA Bank can offer is the vehicle member affinity scheme. In addition to our vehicle member affinity scheme, we can secure discounts on new vehicles, some of which are up to £8,000. Secure your vehicle now by calling Stuart on 03330 048 048 and quote ‘BAGMA’ and your membership number.
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BAGMA member helps keep pitches perfect THE KORO® FIELDTOPMAKER® with Campey UNIVERSE® rotor from BAGMA member Campey Turf Care Systems was the number one choice for White Horse Contractors Ltd for its unrivalled precision and excellent results on hybrid pitches. White Horse, who became a member of The Slatter Group in 2019, partnered with GrassMaster at the end of 2020 to offer hybrid turf sports construction in England and Wales. This partnership and increased demand for renovations on hybrid and natural turf led the company to look for the best option on the market for fraise mowing, with the Koro® FTM® with Campey UNIVERSE® rotor providing everything they needed for all surfaces. “We have had the machine since April, and we’ve carried out renovations throughout the spring and summer, and it’s performed very
well,” White Horse Contractors Ltd Managing Director David Smith said. “Our operators have loved using it because it’s very well built and reliable, but mainly it’s the precision of the machine that has impressed them. “We’re installing more hybrid fields at the moment due to demand and our partnership with GrassMaster in the UK, but a big part of our service is the renovation contracts and programmes that follow. We want to ensure our customers get the best service and pitch possible, and a part of us being able to provide that is the service we get from Campey. “We run a lot of other Campey equipment, and this is a continuation of our partnership with them.” The patented Campey Universe® rotor (fitted with 10mm blades) achieves excellent surface hygiene on all pitch surfaces.
New winter workwear from Snickers A NEW RANGE of Snickers workwear delivers winter warmth and cooling comfort when you need it. With styles for both professional tradesmen and women, the range will keep you working comfortably wherever you are on site. The 37.5® Technology fabric is a very quickdrying material that captures and releases moisture vapour – like your sweat – for superior coolness and dry working comfort. More details:www.snickersworkwear.co.uk
BAGMA BULLETIN NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
BAGMA NEWS
Vital discussions held on the future of industry apprenticeships SHAPING THE APPRENTICES of the future was the subject of a virtual meeting organised by BAGMA and the Landbased Education and Training Committee (LE-TEC). The meeting – attended by about 30 dealers from across the country – included a review of where we are now, why we need to update schemes, and how dealers see the future of apprenticeships. A clear message from the group attendees was that there is a lack of mentoring skills in both the training providers and the employers’ workplace, and that more guidance could be written into the apprenticeship standards. However, it was accepted that the industry had to find a solution to upskill mentors. The discussions were wide-ranging and concluded the following: ● It was felt that the health and safety content was satisfactory ● The apprenticeship structure was broadly fit for purpose ● Workplace visits were essential as was mentoring both in the workplace and training provider ● The technicians can be customer facing and have the potential to significantly enhance or harm the employers’ business ● The working conditions were extremely diverse and often carried out under duress from the customer ● The industry is very diverse, and technicians could be faced with working with a wide variety of machinery. However, it was also expressed that the following elements could be included: ● Dealership profitability ● Modern day working practices and technology used in the workplace for reporting and recording purposes ● Emission control
● Remote diagnostics ● Better understanding of factors influencing machine performance, these included crops, soils, climate and operation. It was suggested that welding and fabrication could be removed from the syllabus, however, this was not universally supported. One suggestion was that it could be confined to the level 2 apprenticeship as a core skill and removed from the level 3 qualification. The group debated whether the length of an apprenticeship was suitable, and it was generally acknowledged three years was sufficient although this was qualified by some who preferred to have their apprentices complete a year’s pre-apprenticeship. It was acknowledged there may be a need to extend the apprenticeship to ensure all relevant content is included. One attendee suggested the intensity of the training delivered whilst attending the training providers should be scrutinised
and more guidance given within the apprenticeship standards to ensure these establishments fully utilise the teaching time available to them. On the final subject of End Point Assessments (EPAs), the meeting agreed: ● More gateways should be added to the apprenticeship to check progress ● Mock EPAs should be included in the training providers delivery plan ● There needed to be a clear procedure to ensure that both the training provider and employer sign off the apprentice’s EPA. It was apparent that employers have a lack of understanding of apprenticeships and their responsibilities. This indicates a failure in communication between employers and training providers on what their expectations are. Questions were invited with BAGMA agreeing to send remaining matters to Andrew Dunne and David Kirschner. Do you have anything to add? Email keith.christian@bagma.com
YAMAHA LAUNCHES NEW RANGE OF ATVS
Yamaha has launched a new range of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and recreational off-road vehicles (ROVs). New special editions of the Kodiak 450 and 700 ATVs are both available with two-tone paint work and alloy wheels, whilst the Grizzly ATV can now be specified with exclusive graphics and 27-inch Zilla Maxxis tyres on 14-inch cast aluminium wheels. For more information contact William Kay at william. kay@yamaha-motor.co.uk
BAGMA BULLETIN NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
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BAGMA NEWS
40
321+
201-240
141-160
51-100
0
121-140
10
161-200
101-120
20
241-320
30
Jan-Sep 2021 UK registrations – regional analysis 70 60
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales
North West
North East
Yorkshire
0
West Midlands
10
East Midlands
20
South East
30
East
40
Home Counties
50
South West
machines registered this year will be slightly lower than a year ago, with the mean figure for January to September 2021 standing at just under 170hp, down from 172.5hp in the same period of 2020. All regions of the UK have recorded growth in tractor registrations this year, except for Yorkshire & the Humber, where they were almost unchanged from January to September 2020. The strongest growth has been seen in the East Midlands (+62%) and Northern Ireland (+50%). These regions saw somewhat slower growth in the third quarter, although still above average, when the fastest increase was in the Home Counties, albeit from a low base. As well as Yorkshire, the North West of England and South Wales saw small year-on-year declines in the latest three months.
50 Year-on-year % change
THE AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS Association (AEA) has released its tractor registration data for 2021 so far. Overall, registrations in the opening nine months of 2021 were 19% higher than in the same period last year. By the third quarter, year-onyear growth had slowed to 7%, although that is largely because registrations had begun to recover by this time a year ago. Across the year to date, registrations were up on 2020 in virtually all power bands, although there was little growth in the 161-200hp band. Growth was particularly strong in the 121-140hp range. T his band also saw solid growth in the third quarter but was outpaced by the 201-240hp range, while some power ranges saw fewer registrations this year. Overall, it appears that the average power of
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Year-on-year % change
Tractor reg data for the year so far released by AEA
AGRICULTURAL TRACTORS (OVER 50HP)
Jan-Sep 2021 UK registrations – power analysis
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The (BAGMA) tie’s the limit for Reekie’s manager Sam HERE’S A PICTURE of Reekie Ltd celebrating the fact that they’ve been appointed official dealer for Bauer’s premium range of crop irrigation equipment. What makes the photo even more special is that Sam Mercer, the group’s general manager in Perth and Cupar, is wearing his BAGMA tie with pride! He told BAGMA’S business development manager Richard Jenkins that in company which supplies a wide range of brands, the BAGMA tie was the ‘most neutral’. Long-standing BAGMA member Reekie Ltd is a leading supplier of agricultural, construction and groundcare machinery. The focus of the new partnership with Bauer is on the group’s depots at Perth and Cupar, which cover some of the largest potato and vegetable growing areas in Scotland. Reekie Ltd has already supplied
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a Bauer Rainstar E31 to a longstanding customer and to underscore its commitment to the new partnership has taken a second E31 into stock and placed a substantial order for critical parts to support future customers for the machines. Sam said: “We have a longstanding involvement with irrigation equipment and wanted to get back to supplying new irrigators again with a premium brand that would sit well alongside our agricultural machinery franchises. “In Bauer, we have that premium brand; the company has a well-deserved reputation for its engineering and manufacturing quality, and the performance and durability of its irrigators.” Rob Jackson of Bauer UK & Ireland added: “We’re delighted to have reached this agreement with Reekie Ltd, an established and well-respected dealership with
people in sales, service and parts who know and understand irrigation equipment and the crucial part it plays in growing high-quality, high-value potato and vegetable crops. “We are already taking orders and securing build slots at the factory for irrigation reels to be deliv-
ered in time for next year’s growing season, so it’s important for growers to look ahead and plan their requirements now for next year and beyond.” Bauer has been at the forefront of irrigation equipment design and technology for more than 50 years as a leading supplier worldwide.
BAGMA BULLETIN NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
BAGMA NEWS
Ag course added to new T Level portfolio NEW T LEVEL qualifications in Agriculture, Land Management and Production, and Animal Care and Management will be available from September 2023. City & Guilds has been awarded the contracts to deliver two new T Level qualifications, following a tender process. BAGMA played an important role in shaping the way the course in Agriculture, Land Management and Production will be delivered. The introduction of T levels is an important part of a major shift in the provision of technical education for students post-16, offering an alternative to A Levels and apprenticeships. David Phillips, managing director of City & Guilds, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the contracts to deliver the Agriculture, Environmental and Animal Care T Levels. These technical qualifications represent an
excellent opportunity for young people looking to start their working life in a sector which can offer sustainable, rewarding careers. “As the next generation enters the workforce, they will be facing new opportunities and we are honoured to play a very important role in helping to equip these students with the skills they will need to flourish in their future careers.” These new technical qualifications will form part of the fourth wave of T Levels, which go live in September 2023 for first teaching. City & Guilds have already been awarded contracts to provide T Levels across Construction, Engineering and Manufacturing, and Management
AS THE NEXT GENERATION ENTERS THE WORKFORCE, THEY WILL BE FACING NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND WE ARE HONOURED TO PLAY THIS VERY IMPORTANT ROLE
David Phillips, managing director of City & Guilds
and Administration and these new qualifications will form an important part of our growing offer. City & Guilds have a long history of offering qualifications across the agriculture, environmental and animal care, and have extensive expertise across the whole sector. The very first T Levels were made available to students from September 2020. Aimed primarily at 16-18-year-old students, they are designed to offer a pathway for students wishing to enter skilled occupations. T Levels are nationally recognised programmes and have similar size and rigour to a three A Level programme. They have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses to ensure they meet the needs of the industry and prepare students for the workplace.
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BAGMA BULLETIN NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
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SHOW NEWS
When all is said and done, it may not have been a bad year – so lets look forward to 2022 As the year draws to a close, BAGMA Director Keith Christian says that despite a raft of challenges, it may turn out well for the sector COMMENT
KEITH CHRISTIAN DIRECTOR BAGMA Despite Covid, Brexit, supply shortages, vaccination roll-out programmes, and the relocation of BAGMA to the AEA, this year has to have gone by so fast it’s made me dizzy. It’s 6.30pm, already getting dark and winter’s clutches are grabbing at my toes despite the temperature outside jumping around all over the place. Our industry seems to have faired well despite recent supply shortages and the import/export issues associated with Brexit. As resilient and capable as ever, it may turn out to be an alright year despite the many frustrations faced by the dealer network. Compared to other industries such as travel and hospitality we probably should be thankful for what we have managed to achieve. Face-to-face meetings are starting to return in our working lives and some of the shows we so enjoy attending are slowly coming back; they are such a great way to meet friends, old and new. BAGMA recently had a get together with the AEA Board at the Farmers Club in London to celebrate our new relationship and discuss issues of common interest. It was great to be able to talk to each other
in person, without the constraints of a video call. I have also been involved with a couple of CLIMMAR meetings recently and attended the annual CLIMMAR General Assembly in Amsterdam. Some very serious matters were discussed and agreed on over the twoday meeting of 30 people from a number of countries. What several video calls could not achieve was concluded in a very amicable way, face-to-face, with the added bonus of being able to discuss the details at the bar! Trying to figure out what paperwork you need to travel and the various Antigen and PCR tests that are required is no fun though. Vaccinations certificates are expected in Europe to get into a country and its restaurants, hotels and bars. Fit-to-fly certificates are required, and I witnessed two very angry passengers being refused boarding on to a flight because they simply did not have the correct Covid documentation. If you are going out of the country take the time to check what is required – very carefully – for where you are going and for your return. I am sure travelling is a lot easier than sorting out the paperwork for importing or exporting though! It’s still early but this is the last of this year’s BAGMA Bulletin magazines so have a great Christmas, stay safe, and all of us at BAGMA look forward to seeing you in the New Year.
Your chance to enter the Young Engineer of the year competition THE LAMMA SHOW and the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) have partnered up to launch the 2022 Young Engineer Award, providing a platform for young engineers who are working to help UK farms become more sustainable, profitable and efficient. Kate Walsh, LAMMA event manager, said: “From the very beginning, the LAMMA Show was dedicated to promoting and educating young agricultural engineers. “LAMMA celebrates its 40th year in 2022, and as we reflect on our past, we also look to the future and what it will bring to the industry. The opportunity to champion the best and brightest agricultural engineers is the perfect way to celebrate that legacy while also supporting the future of British farming.” The award showcases engineers who have created or made changes to a piece of agricultural machinery, equipment or technology and, by doing so, improved efficiency, profitability or sustainability on-farm. IAgrE CEO Charlie Nicklin, who is also one of the judges, added: “We recognise agricultural engineering can reduce the environmental footprint of farming through reducing carbon emissions and better fuel efficiency, and by partnering with LAMMA for this award, IAgrE can recognise and reward practical, environmentally efficient and sustainable agricultural engineering solutions.” “I will be looking for entries that demonstrate creativity and profitability, a finished product, prototype or concept that will help a farm or business’s profitability and how it contributes towards sustainability.”
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BAGMA BULLETIN NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
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BAGMA COUNCIL
What goes on behind closed doors? Welcome to BAGMA Council, a body of member representatives, set up to discuss the industry’s most important and pertinent issues. Here we meet the current members of the Council, as they tell us a little about themselves in their own words… SINCE ITS INCEPTION in 1917, BAGMA – as with most trade associations – has had a body of representative members. The BAGMA Council, or Board of BAGMA, represents its members’ interests in all the association’s activities. From the early beginnings, the Council of Representatives was made up of a volunteer group of members with the new members coopted on to positions over the years. Not so long ago BAGMA had representatives in designated regions around the UK. The council was made up from the chairman of each of these areas, representing their respective regional members. Much has changed in the last 15 years or so and the BAGMA Council is now made up from volunteers from member companies. These can be employees of a member, private owners or semi-retired and retired members who still have interests in our industry.
PRESIDENT
Peter Arrand CLAAS Eastern
I think we can all agree that the last 18 months have been very different to what we’ve all be used to, and we’ve had to adapt and change accordingly. I’ve spent 32 years working for one company but have recently found a new home with CLAAS Eastern as the group aftersales manager. I look back over the last 32 years when I was in my final year at school just about to take my GCSEs – the first year the exams were intro-
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duced – and I can remember all I wanted to do was be an agricultural engineer. My father was a farmer, and this is where my interest in the industry began. I can still remember my careers teacher asking, ‘what do you want to do that for?’. How ill-informed he was, for it is an industry full of technology and opportunity. These days I try to share this knowledge and experience whenever I am given the opportunity. My son, who is just starting the year that will end taking his GCSEs is now open to a huge wealth of information to what his next stage will be: information on further education, universities, technical colleges, apprenticeships and now T Levels. Quality careers advice in schools has been neglected for many years but now it is on Ofsted’s agenda; schools will now be judged on this subject and how it is embedded in the curriculum. I am currently a link governor for careers in schools. Schools are really having to get their act together, signposting and developing knowledge about the next stages in young people’s lives, explaining the options and choices which starts many years before the GCSE years. We are a small industry that needs to fight for recognition and make ourselves heard to attract the people we need for tomorrow. I guess I am telling you this as I have had the opportunity to work with colleges, universi-
QUALITY CAREERS ADVICE IN SCHOOLS HAS BEEN NEGLECTED FOR MANY YEARS BUT NOW IT IS ON OFSTED'S AGENDA
Peter Arrand – President
Peter Heming
Peter Arrand
BAGMA BULLETIN NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
BAGMA COUNCIL
ties, academies, training providers, government departments and awarding bodies over several years and feel passionate about how we develop the talent we will require for the years to come. We must keep our industry on everyone’s radar as much as possible. I have been involved with BAGMA for many years and on the council for the last 10 years, having served two as its President. The council has evolved and changed quite considerably not to mention its new ownership with the AEA, which will secure an aligned and positive future. The team at BAGMA has always been helpful and hardworking and the council members have always found the time in their busy lives to make time for meetings and other engagements. However, I have noticed that we struggle to engage with a younger audience and hopefully this will be something we can develop in my extended two years of presidency.
VICE PRESIDENT
Peter Heming
Heming Engineering Ltd. I’m Peter and I have worked with the Heming Group since leaving school. As a relatively new member of the council, my interests are in the agriculture and construction arenas. I am passionate about quality service delivery and like my businesses to deliver the level of service I would expect to receive. Like many of the other council members, I am keen for the agricultural industry to be attractive as a profession for the youth of today, and will be working hard to raise its profile. I know there has been frustration in the wake of coronavirus and Brexit, with regards to supply of equipment and parts. However, I did see this coming and, as a result, I stepped up our stock levels and forward planning. Outside of work I am very busy with my farming enterprise including a campsite. I love my work and my two young children - both boys - aged nine and nearly two. Heming Engineering has been BAGMA members for many years, and I have previously been Chairman of the Four Counties. I was honoured to be asked to join the main BAGMA Council, quickly becoming Vice President. Since joining the council, I am always willing to get involved and I will endeavour to make my mark on the future.
Brian Sangster
BAGMA BULLETIN NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED BAGMA HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER THE DEALERS BOTH IN SERVICES, ADVICE AND GUIDANCE...
Brian Sangster – Immediate Past President
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Brian Sangster Retired
I served my apprenticeship in agricultural engineering with Farm Mechanisation Ltd, part of the G Reekie Group, in Cupar, Fife. During this time, I attended Elmwood Agricultural & Technical College, initially on a fulltime course but, leading on to day-release during my apprenticeship. I continued my career with farm mechanisation until I took a break to teach agricultural engineering in college on the Scottish Borders, where I also took the opportunity to further develop my own career path including a spell at Jordanhill College of Education. Returning to the G Reekie Group, I was appointed service manager at Stirling Tractors progressing to the agricultural divisional service manager before eventually talking up the group service and warranty manager’s position, covering tractors and agricultural machinery, ground care, industrial forklifts, and even included a car franchise. Since retiring I have maintained my passion for land-based engineering having served as BAGMA President for four years. Currently, I hold the position of Immediate Past President. Representing BAGMA I currently chair the LE-TEC management group, a position I’ve held for the last three years. I am passionate about recruitment, training and apprenticeships in our industry, and as a STEM Ambassador regularly talk in schools. I work with RHET, Royal Highland Educational Trust, (a charity within the Royal Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland) and have assisted LANTRA Scotland in talking to careers and guidance teachers about the opportunities available in our industry. I often wonder how they can offer careers guidance and advice when they know so little about what we have to offer. I do, however, worry about the value of our UK apprenticeships as England and the devolved nations now all focus on their own training routes and differing apprenticeships. After all, we do all service and repair the same tractors and machinery and may even work for the same employer where they have branches on different sides of the borders. Employees with different qualifications but doing the same job. I’ve always believed BAGMA has so much to offer the dealers both in services, advice and guidance. Our greatest challenge though, is to maintain contact with our members to ensure they’re not only aware of what we have to offer but to encourage them to make use of these services. An example may be the free Legal and HR advice that may just save a member going down the wrong route with an employee dispute.
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BAGMA COUNCIL
LEGAL & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
Bob Chapman
Bavenhill Mechanics I am Bob Chapman of Bavenhill Mechanics Co Ltd, a machinery dealer, specialising in Airblast sprayers, renewable energy, ground and air source instals, solar and battery storage, Pattenden Machinery Ltd, manufacturer of fruit harvesters for blackcurrants and cider apples. I started out as an apprentice and trained for five years with RECO, before joining Bavenhill in 1978. I have held the presidency positions for both BAGMA and British Hardware Federation (BHF) – which became Bira. I am passionate about lobbying for the small companies, helping to ensure that they get the same access to the same support, guidance and training that the big boys get. I am not happy about the way tractor manufactures treat dealers, and I try to help keep balance in industry from blacksmiths to mighty managing directors. BAGMA can help maintain that balance in the industry by representing big and small dealers. I like to ensure good service, and retain a reasonable margin.
CLIMMAR REPRESENTATIVE
Howard Pullen
Howard Pullen Machinery Ltd. I am Howard and at 67 I still run my own business, Howard Pullen Machinery Ltd. I mainly sell and export surplus machinery on behalf of farmers as a machinery broker based in West Sussex. I started in the machinery business exporting used tractors to the USA in 1977 and then went on to run my own Deutz-Fahr dealership for 10 years in 1980, but when interest rates hit 18% it was unsustainable. In 1991 I formed a new company with some of my loyal previous employees selling Renault and CLAAS and I continued as sales manager and director when CLAAS operated the business of Southern Harvesters between 1995-2015. I took early retirement which lasted a month in October 2015, and have since been successfully running my own business from home with an annual turnover of around £1.5 million. I have been a BAGMA member for nearly 40 years, a BAGMA President, and President of its former retail arm, Bira, from 2019 to 2021. I still serve as a BAGMA Council member, and I have made a great number of friends and long-term contacts both in the UK and Europe. I have enjoyed representing BAGMA at European CLIMMAR meetings and feel it is important that we can still make our voice heard in Europe because we will still have to abide by their regulations if we want to sell there. I have believed for many years that our logical home should be with the AEA as most European dealer
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organisations are now; I actively promoted this idea during my time as Bira President. The involvement of new technologies and training needs a joined-up approach with manufacturers and, going forward, this must be most the logical and efficient partnership. Unfortunately, county meetings of BAGMA are a thing of the past but I think BAGMA Connect regional meetings should continue when it is appropriate to do so. Zoom meetings are OK but they do not provide the face-to-face networking which has been the important part of being a trade organisation and welcoming new members. Personal contact by the BAGMA officers is essential and regional WhatsApp and social media groups would be a way to encourage participation and future ideas for a modern trade organisation.
Bob Chapman
CONNECT CHAIRMAN
Andrew Walker B&B Tractors
Howard Pullen
My name is Andrew and I work for B&B Tractors as group aftersales manager. I have been with B&B for nearly 11 years and am mainly based at our head office in Warsop, near Mansfield, but also visit our other three depots in the East Midlands regularly. I started my career as an apprentice agricultural technician at an AGCO dealership in 1996, before a change of location gave me the opportunity to join a John Deere dealership in 1998. I was privileged to work my way through the LTA scheme to become one of the first batch of John Deere LTA4 accredited technicians at the time, an achievement I am still proud of today. I became service manager in 2005 which gave me my first experience in managing a team which aimed to to provide the best customer aftersales support. In 2011 I was offered the opportunity to become group service manager at B&B Tractors. On seeing what B&B Tractors were trying to achieve, and with the chance to be a key part of the management team, I decided it was an opportunity I couldn’t refuse. On joining them I focussed on the service department at the Mansfield depot for a year, before bringing in additional management staff and developing the other depots in my group role. In 2014 I was promoted to group aftersales manager, overseeing the parts departments along with the service department. In addition to managing aftersales my role also involves working on developing our business system and IT management across the group to make sure we have the latest technology and systems to work effectively. I love the fact that we still deal with people face-toface and generally know all our customers and suppliers on first name terms. I think it’s great that people who work in our industry are willing to help each other and offer advice, even if they may be working with competitive brands. With the ever-changing technology and complexity of the machinery we deal with it’s
Andrew Walker
BAGMA BULLETIN NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
BAGMA COUNCIL
Ian Nutt
not an industry you can get bored with easily; I think it’s why the apprenticeships and career opportunities are some of the best available. I really enjoy the opportunity to get involved in employing someone who is starting their career and seeing them develop and become an expert in their vocation. As our industry is ever-changing it means you can’t stick to doing what you have always done, which suits me as I like change and the opportunity to learn new things. I was initially invited to attend BAGMA Connect meetings which I found were a great source of information. They were also an opportunity to keep up with industry changes and find out what other dealers were doing to develop their businesses. I found that the sharing of knowledge and experiences allowed me to apply this within our own business which was a great benefit. Being given the opportunity to become Chairman of the BAGMA Connect Group and then a member of the Council was a great opportunity that allowed me to share my experiences in aftersales with a view to helping others dealers and the industry if I can. As BAGMA is working on behalf of the dealer network with panels made up of dealer staff and other industry experts it gives a greater understanding of the issues faced and the reality of our industry. It connects the dealerships and staff throughout the whole of the UK and provides a simple platform to discuss and assist with the everyday issues that we face. The industry needs to keep working together especially on the big issues of recruitment retention and apprenticeships, but also in improved ways of doing business and supporting our customer base. We should continue to promote and encourage the development of new and especially younger staff, so the future of our industry is secure and can grow.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Craig Footman
Chandlers Farm Equipment
Craig Footman
I am Craig and I currently work for Chandlers Farm Equipment as a Massey Ferguson sales specialist. I have worked in the industry for 34 years, with 30 of those at ex-Massey Ferguson-now-McCormick dealer Mark Weatherhead Ltd. I started there at the Hardwick depot as junior parts person moving on to purchasing, then aftersales manager. I was then introduced to the Isuzu brand and looked after sales, service and parts for them. From 2014 I was appointed company director for aftersales and Isuzu pickup sales. In the industry I am passionate about aftersales and customer relations, I believe this is the most important and sometimes forgotten part of the dealerships. This attitude has helped me so far in my new role in sales which is different for me, but the aftersales and customer support has been very useful for me to build
BAGMA BULLETIN NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
relationships with end users. It’s frustrating that there is a lack of initial training supplied by some of manufacturers especially in groundscare/lawn and garden sector. All Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) forget about parts training and ongoing development training across all departments, this is something I feel needs fixing by suppliers. When invited to join the BAGMA Council - following on from Mark Weatherhead who had supported me so well over the years and was a former BAGMA President – I jumped at the chance. It gave me the opportunity to give back some of the experience I had gained from the industry and hopefully help other BAGMA members in the process. The support and information BAGMA give to their members and contacts into suppliers is so important and has really helped me over the years before I was on the council. However, I feel the most important thing BAGMA is doing is their work on training and apprenticeships – this will hopefully attract new energy into the trade which is very much needed. I believe the industry dealers and manufacturers alike need to really start investing in new people in the industry. It’s something that as dealers we have all not done and we are paying the price now as we are unable to find technicians or parts people for the trade.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Ian Nutt
Sales Director for Chandlers Farm Equipment I am Ian and I oversee all sales activity for the Fendt/ Valtra brand, in conjunction with other leading franchises. I am responsible for leading an experienced team within the Chandlers organisation, who have a wealth of experience within the industry. Having previously worked with Lister Wilder as managing director, the agricultural business was acquired by Chandlers FE in January 2021. The head office is based in Grantham. I am pleased to be working with an experienced team, with the responsibility of heading up two leading franchises within the industry – Fendt and Valtra. Having started my career in agricultural engineering years ago, as a service technician for John Wilders, based in Bracknell, I then had a period within the parts department as I felt it was important to have a good understanding of all elements within a dealership. I then moved into agricultural retail sales within John Wilder, followed by some time in agricultural retail finance. In 1982, I took up the position as branch manager at Walter Wilder Agricultural Ltd. In 2000, the company name changed to Lister Wilder and prior to the sale of the agricultural business to Chandlers at the beginning of this year, we were operating from 10 branches in the south of England. I would like to think I have been a strong supporter of BAGMA over the years, with a spell as Chairman of the Agricultural Committee and currently remain a council member.
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EXPERTS VIEW
How to ensure directors’ duties are met When it comes to dealing with health and safety responsibilities, where does the buck stop?
SAFETY
PAUL MARSH
Office manager SafetyAide
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WHEN THE HEALTH and Safety the board, not taking away from its colExecutive (HSE) comes across serious lective responsibility. breaches of health and safety legislation Include health and safety as a standit will look to see where the buck stops. ing item on meeting agendas, including What type of evidence will persuade it those for the board and senior managethat directors and senior managers are ment team. fulfilling their responsibilities? Whilst most senior personnel don’t Competency deliberately act irresponsibly, they’ll To fulfil their health and safety duties, often struggle to prove they’ve done the directors need a reasonable level of right thing when a health and safety understanding of the issues. inspector is in front of them asking difHaving a briefing for directors on ficult questions. This is therefore an area health and safety responsibilities is a which is worth some forward planning. good way of boosting competency and You should begin by considerrecording that they’ve been ing the contents of your health INCLUDE trained. You could pick from and safety policy. It should HEALTH AND one of the off-the-peg training have three parts: (1) a state- SAFETY AS courses or ask a health and safement of intent; (2) details of A STANDING ty trainer to update the board roles and responsibilities, ITEM ON on the topic. known as your 'organisation'; MEETING One aspect of the briefing and (3) a description of your AGENDAS should be a reminder of the arrangements for implementrules to be followed on site such ing the policy. Your organisation state- as restricted areas, personal protective ment should show how the board will equipment, signing in and out, hygiene oversee health and safety and allocate measures, etc. Directors must lead by responsibilities to each level of manage- example, being aware of the damage ment and staffing. caused to safety culture if they are not It’s good practice to nominate a seen to be following the rules themdirector with responsibility for health selves.Arrange for regular updates to and safety. However, ensure that there’s the board on the latest external devela proper understanding that this indi- opments of interest such as legislative vidual is simply overseeing the work of changes and key cases.
Being aware It’s too easy for senior personnel to make incorrect assumptions about what’s happening on the ground. Directors should therefore receive regular reports as well as take steps to get direct and truthful feedback from staff. Ensure that your accident reporting procedure includes the need to escalate reports of serious incidents very quickly to a high level. The same should happen where bad publicity is likely, even if there were no serious injuries. By ensuring that staff are consulted on health and safety matters, such as during team meetings or in a dedicated health and safety committee meeting, you’ll have a better chance of understanding what the real problems are. Directors should receive reports from these meetings. It’s good practice to have a regular audit undertaken to understand whether the commitments contained in the health and safety policy are being delivered. Your health and safety policy should include clear responsibilities for directors and they should be briefed to ensure they understand them. Health and safety should be a regular agenda item and include reports of accidents, audits, staff consultations and changes to legislation.
BAGMA BULLETIN NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
EXPERTS VIEW
Is your brand instantly recognisable? Branding is essential if you want to be the go-to company within your sector, says Mary Evans MARKETING
MARY EVANS
Owner ME Marketing and Events
WHEN YOU ARE flicking through a magazine and see an advert for Apple or McDonald's, you know straight away who it is without necessarily seeing their logo. Branding is so much more than just a logo; this is just a starting point in your journey to consistent branding. As a business you will undoubtedly have a logo but have you defined a colour palette? Do you have a particular font that you use? Do you have consistent header and footer designs in your materials? These simple starting points will allow your customers to begin to recognise any marketing touch points that you create and use. Whether it is a print advertisement or a digitally designed advert, try and keep your look consistent to create a unified experience for existing and
potential customers. There are some own brand guidelines doesn’t have great platforms that you can use to to mean investing in an expensive start creating, such as Canva which branding package, you can simply can be used on their free account or start today. Answer the questions pay monthly for access to more fea- that I wrote above, define your look tures, this platform is a great place to and your brand feel. Then simply start and super easy to use. ensure that it is implementAdobe Photoshop – which WHY NOT ed across your marketing. can be paid for monthly – CREATE A Why not create a documay require more experi- DOCUMENT ment simply detailing your ence but there are also lots DETAILING branding guidelines; the of online tutorials to help get YOUR fonts, the colour palette etc. you started. and share it with your team BRANDING In a world full of com- GUIDELINES to ensure everyone is on the petition, ensuring that your same page. brand is instantly recognisable will Be the Apple in your industry. mean a higher chance that your ideal What are you waiting for? customers will start to notice you Email Mary Evans at mary@ and stop to look at your marketing memarketingandevents.com, call messages. her on 07917347451, or visit www. Making the moves to your very memarketingandevents.com
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BAGMA BULLETIN NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
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EXPERTS VIEW
The lowdown on biodiesel – and what you need to know FUEL
CLIVE CARTER
Sales Executive at IPU Group
ON-ENGINE FILTERS ARE THE LAST LINE IN DEFENCE TO PROTECT YOUR ENGINES FROM DIRTY FUEL 14
Here, Clive Carter from the IPU Group explains more about biodiesel, why it is so crucial to our industry, and recent changes to the types available What is biodiesel? Biodiesel is not new. Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine, tested peanut oil fuels in his engines. Vegetable oils were also widely used during the Second World War as a diesel substitute. Biodiesel is now a common ingredient of modern diesel blends, and organisations have to educate themselves on how to store and maintain it. Although many types of biodiesels are available, Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) is the most common. It is used to form most diesel blends used across the world today. FAME is used because it contains less sulphur than petrochemical diesel. Lower levels of sulphur reduce the health risks associated with diesel and reduce the number of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter in the atmosphere. When compared to most pure petrochemical diesel, biodiesel reduces: ● CO emissions by up to 50%. ● Particulate emissions by 30%. ● Exhaust emissions of total hydrocarbons (a contributing factor in the localised formation of smog and ozone damage) up to 93%. ● The levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) (which are identified as potential cancer-causing compounds) by 75-85%.
Despite the benefits, most engines will not function reliably on pure biodiesel. It’s necessary to use it in conjunction with petrochemical diesel. The current ratio used across Europe is 7% biodiesel to 93% petrochemical diesel, identified as B7. The ‘B Factor’ identifies the percentage of biodiesel used, e.g. B100 is pure 100% biodiesel and B20 is 20% biodiesel and 80% petrochemical diesel. Why does biodiesel need conditioning? ‘We’ve never had to maintain our fuel before, why now?’ Technically speaking, even petrochemical diesel required maintenance, but introducing biodiesel blends has accelerated the rate of degradation. Biodiesel suffers from more aggressive water and microbial contamination than petrochemical diesel. The natural ingredients facilitate bacterial growth. Biodiesel is hydroscopic, meaning it attracts water, and whilst a contaminant in its own right, it encourages the growth of microbial organisms known as ‘diesel bug’. As the ratio of biodiesel in fuel rises, so will the instances of fuel contamination. The level of FAME currently sits at 7% in the UK, but it is expected to rise to 20% in the future future. It is already 8% in France.
Preventative measures must be taken by anyone who stores diesel. A fuel management programme, like IPU’s, is essential to keep biodiesel in a good condition. Regularly sampling and testing fuel gives you a clear view of what’s happening in your fuel tank. Fuel cleaning removes contamination and restores fuel back to original condition. Fuel polishing units act as a preventative measure, to reduce circulate fuel and reduce contamination build up. Adding fuel additives to the tank help to reduce contamination. On-engine filters are the last line of defence to protect your engines from dirty fuel blocking filters and damaging injectors. E5 & E10 petrol. There are now two grades of petrol available on the forecourt: E5, 97+ octane and E10, 95 octane. The new E10 aims to reduce CO2 emissions. The ‘E’ number represents the percentage of bioethanol the fuel contains. And, as a result, some vehicles could suffer. There is a strong risk of ‘corrosion’ in some components such as hoses and seals. The lower octane is also less efficient and likely to impact fuel economy and miles per gallon. Check the government website to ascertain your vehicle’s compatibility. Learn more at www.ipu.co.uk/bagma
BAGMA BULLETIN NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
OUT AND ABOUT
Tillage Live ploughs on with some amazing demos THE LATEST AGRICULTURAL machinery was put to work in a series of impressive demonstrations at Tillage Live. The event returned to DownAmpney in Gloucestershire in September, and BAGMA’s Business Development Manager Richard Jenkins attended for the first time. Organised by the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) on behalf of its members, the Crop Establishment Demonstrations gave visitors the chance to see the largest number of exhibitors in the UK, in action across fieldscale lots. A f ter the early mist had cleared, visitors were treated to stunning late summer’s day at a site perfect for such a show. Many of the major manufacturers were exhibiting, supported by local dealers – the majority being
BAGMA members. The event allows farmers and contractors the opportunity to see demonstrations from different companies in adjacent plots. It’s a chance to see the latest equipment at work and to discuss new ideas with industry experts. It was also great to see so many students there from the local colleges. BAGMA would highly recommend attending future Tillage Live shows. It was expertly run with timed demonstrations in the central plot and machiner y constantly in operation – something that indoor shows are not able t o achieve.
BAGMA BULLETIN NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
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BAGMA LEGAL
How to investigate an accident or incident in your workplace Preventing accidents is the ultimate aim however, if an incident does occur BAGMA Legal can advise on the action to take WHEN IT COMES to workplace health and safety, the ultimate aim is to proactively prevent accidents before they happen. This can be done by risk assessing your environment, implementing appropriate control measures, and monitoring and reviewing these regularly, as well as generally promoting the right attitudes and behaviours amongst your workforce. However, accidents can and do occur across all industries. When this happens, it’s important to carry out a health and safety investigation as the findings can help you decide how to prevent a similar incident in the future. Investigation is an essential part of the required monitoring process. Incidents, including near misses, reveal a lot about how work is really being done. For example, it could be that workers are simply ignoring rules and finding shortcuts to make their work easier. Of course, as well as human error and behavioural factors, accidents can also occur through a lack of information and training, missing or inadequate risk assessments, unmaintained or faulty equipment, and other risk management oversights.
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Whatever the root cause, investigation helps identify why your existing risk controls failed and determine what improvements are needed. Additionally, certain work-related injuries, cases of ill health and dangerous occurrences must be reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013. Note that any RIDDOR reporting requirement should not stop your own investigation. Effective investigation requires a structured step-by-step approach, in which information is gathered and analysed, lessons are learned, and action is taken to prevent future accidents. Here’s our recommended process for investing accidents and incidents in the workplace. Step 1. Gather information When faced with an accident in the workplace, the first step is to find out what happened and what conditions/actions influenced the event. It’s important to begin as soon as possible. This will prevent items being tampered with, for example, things being moved, machinery
guards being replaced, etc. If necessary, stop work and prevent unauthorised access. Talk to everyone who was close by, especially if they saw what happened or know anything about the conditions that led to it. Collect all available relevant information, including opinions, experiences, observations, sketches, measurements, photographs, check sheets and environmental conditions. Information can initially be recorded in note form, with a formal report completed later. Be precise and establish the facts as best you can. Keep an open mind and consider anything that might have contributed to the incident. Questions to ask include: ● Where and when did the event happen? Often, several chance occurrences combine to create an incident. All factors should be recorded in chronological order. ● Who was injured/suffered ill health or was otherwise involved? ● How did things unfold? Be objective. Avoid making snap judgements on the probable cause(s). ● What activities were being carried out at the time? This can cast light on the circumstances that caused something to go wrong. Describe all relevant details, such as the surroundings, equipment/materials used, employees involved and any detail about their behaviour, etc. ● Was there anything unusual or different about the working conditions or processes? If so, why was this? ● Were there adequate safe working procedures and were they followed? Was safety equipment sufficient? ● What injuries or ill-health effects, if any, were caused? ● Were people aware of the hazard and the associated risks? If so, why wasn’t action taken? Get to the bottom of why this may have been ignored, not fully appreciated or understood – make sure to investigate the processes and systems, not the person. ● Did the organisation of the work influence matters? ● Was maintenance/cleaning sufficient? Did workplace conditions, plant and/or equipment contribute to or cause the event? ● Were the people involved competent and suitably trained? ● Did the nature of any materials influence matters? ● Did difficulties using plant and equipment influence the event? ● Did other conditions influence matters? Step 2. Analyse the information ● Next, thoroughly examine all the facts. ● Look at the information objectively. ● Determine what happened and why. BAGMA BULLETIN NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
BAGMA LEGAL
● Identify what detail is relevant and what’s missing. As the analysis progresses, further lines of enquiry requiring additional information may develop. The analysis must be carried out in a systematic way to ensure all the possible causes and consequences of an incident are fully considered. It should be conducted with employee or trade union health and safety representatives and other experts or specialists. This can help ensure all the relevant causal factors emerge. Ask what were the immediate, underlying and root causes? Only by identifying all causes, and the root causes in particular, can you learn from past failures and prevent future repetition.
ity to prevent recurrences. If several risk control measures are identified, they should be carefully prioritised in a risk control action plan.
Step 3. Identify suitable risk controls Your analysis should identify risk control measures that either failed or that could have interrupted the chain of events, if they had been in place. Draw up a list of all the possible solutions to prevent similar events. They need to be evaluated. Only the optimum solution(s) should be considered for implementation. Some measures will be more difficult to implement than others, but this must not influence their listing as possible risk controls. Evaluate each possible risk control on its abil-
diately? If the risk is high, act immediately. You will no doubt face financial constraints. However, this doesn’t excuse employers from taking action. Employers must either reduce Step 4. The action plan and implementation the risks to an acceptable level – employing the The desired outcome of an investigation is an notion of reasonable practicability – or stop the action plan for implementing additional risk work activity. controls. This sets out what needs to be done, Each risk control measure should be when and by whom. assigned a timescale. A specific The plan should have SMART A SPECIFIC person, preferably a senior manager, objectives – Specific, Measurable, PERSON should be responsible for ensuring Agreed, Realistic and with Times- SHOULD BE the action plan is put into effect. cales. For the proposed controls to RESPONSIBLE Make sure progress on the action be SMART, management, safety FOR ENSURING plan is regularly reviewed. professionals, employees and their THE PLAN IS PUT The findings of your accident representatives should all contribute IN PROGRESSS investigation should indicate areas to the action plan. of your risk assessments and work Not every risk control will be implemented processes that need improving. but high-priority ones should be put in place Keep records of incidents, their causes and immediately. In deciding what to prioritise, the corrective measures taken. This allows you the magnitude of the risk should be your guide. to monitor your health and safety performance Risk is the likelihood and severity of harm. Ask and detect trends. In turn, this will improve your yourself: overall understanding and management of risk. ● What’s essential to securing your workforce’s health and safety today? BAGMA members can access a wealth of ● What can’t be left until another day? legal advice through legal partners Ellis ● How high is the risk to employees if the risk Whittam. Call BAGMA HQ for more details on control measure isn’t implemented imme- 01295 713444.
BAGMA BULLETIN NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
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