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GRAANGIDS
2017
GRAIN GUIDE
FARM SAFETY
– questions that can save your life
Security status is a theme that is very topical these days and should be revisited regularly. Measure
yourself against these questions and do something about the weaknesses.
Being alert, observant
and prepared will definitely help you in a difficult situation.
Is there an emergency plan for different incidents and does everybody know what to do then?
Do you, your family and workers still apply the safety measures and do you practise the emer-
gency plan regularly?
Do you have a protocol in place to deal with, for example, uninvited visitors who come looking
for work?
Do you have a protocol in place to check and verify the identification of uninvited and
invited visitors?
Do you tend to follow a specific routine, for example, do you always stop in the same place
when you come from town?
Is there an early warning system for your farm and is it still effective?
Are you always on the lookout for strangers on your farm?
Will your employees report strangers and strange vehicles on your farm?
Do you inform the community of possible suspect persons or vehicles in the area?
Is the attitude of your employees such that they will protect your family if you are not there?
Do you handle as little cash as possible and do your workers know that there is no real cash in
the house or office?
Do you approach all strangers with the necessary caution? (You never know whether they are
armed or not.)
Is the security fence still effective in combating undesirable access?
Are the security doors and gates and burglar bars of your houses still effective and adequate?
Is there a security gate in your home that can effectively separate the bedrooms from the rest of
the house and do you lock this gate at night?
Do you have a dog that sleeps in the house at night?
Are the security lights and alarm system still effective and in working order?
Are the guard dogs and alternative warning mechanisms still effective?
Do you have alternative communication systems in addition to the landline or personal cellphones
(for example, contact with the neighbours and the police or a hidden cellphone in a room)?
Do your and your family’s cellphones, as well as the hidden cellphone, contain a list of whom
to contact in the case of an incident?
Are the areas around your gates and at T junctions open so that a surprise attack is difficult
to launch?
Is your garden laid out in such a way that there are no easy hiding places?
Do you have unique plans to ensure your safety and to outsmart criminals?
These are only a few questions to get your thoughts going. Every producer’s circumstances and
farming operation are unique, so put together your own complete list and be prepared!
Pietman Botha, agricultural consultant