Autumn Farm Workwear and PPE Checklist for Darker Days

October brings shorter days, heavier rain and muddier working conditions to farms and smallholdings across the UK. Morning milking, evening livestock checks, machinery work and yard duties may increasingly take place in poor light and difficult weather.

Now is a sensible time to inspect work clothing and personal protective equipment before winter. Suitable waterproofs, footwear, gloves and task-specific PPE can improve comfort and provide important protection—but only when they are selected, fitted and maintained correctly.

This practical checklist will help you review what you and your team may need for the months ahead.

Begin with the task and its risks

There is no single set of PPE suitable for every agricultural job. The right equipment depends on the task, working environment and hazards involved.

Before choosing PPE, consider:

• What work will be carried out
• Whether vehicles or machinery will be moving nearby
• The weather and expected light levels
• Slippery, uneven or contaminated surfaces
• Chemicals, dust, noise or flying particles
• Livestock handling risks
• Whether the person will be working alone
• How long the equipment will be worn
• Whether different items of PPE work properly together

PPE should support a suitable risk assessment and safe system of work. It must not be treated as a replacement for removing hazards, guarding machinery, separating pedestrians from vehicles or providing adequate lighting.

The Health and Safety Executive describes PPE as the last line of protection after other reasonably practicable controls have been considered. HSE

Inspect waterproof clothing before winter

A waterproof jacket that leaks, restricts movement or catches on equipment will not perform as intended.

Check farm waterproofs for:

• Tears, worn seams or punctures
• Damaged zips, poppers and fastenings
• Loose cords or straps
• Areas where the waterproof coating has deteriorated
• Poor fit over autumn or winter layers
• Restricted movement when bending, lifting or climbing
• Contamination that cannot be cleaned safely

Waterproof jackets, trousers, bib-and-brace garments, smocks and aprons serve different purposes. Choose clothing suited to the job rather than assuming one garment will cover every situation.

Layering can make it easier to adjust clothing as the temperature and workload change. Clothing should allow normal movement without being so loose that it may snag on gates, controls or machinery.

Skipton Dairy’s agricultural workwear and PPE collection includes waterproof farm clothing, dairy workwear, footwear and gloves. Check each product’s description and intended use before ordering.

Avoid loose clothing near machinery

Loose clothing, trailing hood cords, jewellery and unsecured long hair can become caught in rotating or moving machinery.

Before operating or approaching machinery:

• Fasten coats and coveralls correctly
• Secure or remove trailing cords
• Tie back long hair
• Remove jewellery that could snag
• Avoid loose or damaged cuffs
• Make sure clothing cannot catch on controls
• Check that machinery guards are fitted and secure

Never rely on close-fitting clothing alone to control an entanglement hazard. Guards, isolation procedures, proper training and the manufacturer’s operating instructions remain essential.

HSE specifically identifies loose clothing, trailing drawstrings and loose hair as causes of entanglement around agricultural machinery. HSE

Check boots and wellingtons carefully

Autumn mud, slurry, wet concrete and damaged yard surfaces can make footing less secure. Inspect every pair of work boots and wellingtons rather than waiting for a leak or split to appear.

Look for:

• Worn or clogged tread
• Splits around the sole or upper
• Damaged toe areas
• Loose soles
• Cracked material
• Broken laces or fastenings
• Signs that the boot no longer fits securely
• Contamination inside the boot
• Insoles that need cleaning or replacing

Footwear should suit the task and surface. Waterproof wellingtons may be useful for wet livestock work, while jobs involving falling objects, machinery or sharp materials may require appropriately rated safety footwear.

Do not assume that every wellington or work boot has toe or midsole protection. Confirm the product specification and select footwear based on the risk assessment.

Keep a dry spare pair available where practical. Wet footwear can be uncomfortable, and hurriedly wearing unsuitable boots because the usual pair has not dried can introduce new risks.

Select gloves for the job

Gloves can protect against cold, dirt, abrasion, chemicals and other hazards, but one type of glove will not suit every task.

Consider whether the job requires:

• Thermal protection
• Grip in wet conditions
• Resistance to a particular chemical
• Protection against cuts or abrasion
• Disposable gloves for hygiene procedures
• Enough dexterity to use tools or controls safely

Always consult a chemical’s label and safety information before selecting gloves. A glove that resists one substance may not protect against another.

Gloves must not be worn where they could become caught in moving machinery. Follow the equipment manufacturer’s instructions and the farm’s safe working procedure.

Inspect reusable gloves for holes, thinning, contamination and deterioration. Wash or dispose of them as directed, and allow cleaned gloves to dry fully before storage.

Improve visibility around moving vehicles

High-visibility clothing can make a person easier to see, particularly around tractors, loaders, delivery vehicles and machinery. The garment must be appropriate for the light, weather, background and level of risk.

Check that hi-vis clothing:

• Is the correct size
• Remains securely fastened
• Is visible from the necessary directions
• Is not hidden beneath a non-visible outer layer
• Has clean, recognisable reflective material
• Is not faded, torn or excessively worn
• Is suitable for the actual working conditions

Darker conditions may require a greater area of high-visibility material. However, hi-vis clothing does not make it safe to walk behind a reversing vehicle or enter a driver’s blind spot.

Pedestrians and vehicles should be separated wherever reasonably practicable. Farm traffic routes should also be maintained and adequately lit. HSE

Review yard and building lighting

Portable torches are useful, but they are not a substitute for adequate fixed lighting in yards, passages and working areas.

Walk around the farm after dark and inspect:

• Vehicle and pedestrian routes
• Building entrances
• Feed and bedding stores
• Loading and unloading areas
• Water troughs
• Livestock handling facilities
• Steps and changes in floor level
• Machinery parking areas
• Chemical and medicine stores
• Areas used for early or late milking

Clean dirty light covers and replace failed lamps safely. Check whether machinery, buildings or stacked materials create deep shadows or block the light.

Lights should illuminate hazards without dazzling drivers or creating glare that makes pedestrians more difficult to see. HSE states that yards, manoeuvring areas, pedestrian routes and other locations with traffic movements require suitable and sufficient lighting. HSE

A charged handheld or head torch can provide useful backup illumination. Keep spare batteries or a charged alternative available, but do not use a torch as justification for leaving defective fixed lighting unrepaired.

Match specialist PPE to the hazard

Some agricultural tasks require additional protection, which may include:

• Eye or face protection
• Hearing protection
• Safety helmets
• Respiratory protective equipment
• Chemical-resistant clothing
• Fall-protection equipment
• Chainsaw protective clothing

These items need careful selection. Respiratory equipment, for example, must be suitable for the specific contaminant and may require face-fit testing. Hearing protection must provide appropriate protection without preventing the wearer from hearing necessary warnings.

Do not buy specialist PPE solely because it appears heavy-duty. Confirm the relevant standard, intended use, compatibility with other equipment and correct fit.

Workers must also receive suitable information, instruction and training. HSE guidance requires workplace PPE to be assessed before use, maintained, stored correctly and used properly. HSE

Prepare for lone working after dark

Shorter days mean routine work that was completed in daylight during summer may now be done alone in darkness.

Review your lone-working arrangements and make sure that:

• Someone knows where the worker will be
• An expected return or check-in time is agreed
• The worker has a reliable means of communication
• Areas without mobile coverage are identified
• Emergency contact details are accessible
• The worker knows how to raise the alarm
• High-risk tasks are not carried out alone
• A missed check-in triggers a clear response

A charged phone can be helpful, but only where there is adequate reception and a practical system for checking that the person has returned safely.

HSE advises employers to train, supervise and monitor lone workers, maintain contact and have a response for incidents. HSE

Clean and store PPE properly

Mud, oils, slurry and chemicals can damage PPE and make defects harder to see. Contaminated equipment may also expose the next user to a hazard.

Establish a simple storage area where PPE can be:

• Cleaned according to the manufacturer’s instructions
• Dried away from damaging heat
• Inspected under good lighting
• Stored somewhere clean and dry
• Kept separate from chemicals and contaminated clothing
• Easily found before a job begins

Do not continue using damaged PPE simply because no replacement is immediately available. Keep commonly used replacement items ready where appropriate.

Reflective materials also need regular cleaning to remain effective. HSE notes that reusable PPE should be kept clean, properly stored and maintained in good condition. HSE

Complete an autumn workwear check

Use this short checklist with employees, family members and anyone else who regularly works on the holding:

• Are waterproof jackets and trousers clean, sound and correctly fitted?
• Do boots have adequate tread and suit the task?
• Are suitable gloves available for different jobs?
• Is hi-vis clothing clean and easy to see?
• Have loose cords and snagging hazards been removed?
• Is task-specific eye, hearing or respiratory protection available?
• Does everyone know when and how PPE should be used?
• Are yards, entrances and pedestrian routes properly lit?
• Are torches charged and accessible?
• Is there a reliable lone-working check-in procedure?
• Is damaged PPE removed from use and replaced?
• Is clean, dry storage available?

Repeat the inspection during winter. Workwear can deteriorate quickly when it is used daily in wet, dirty conditions.

Prepare for darker working days with Skipton Dairy

Skipton Dairy Services supplies agricultural workwear and PPE for farmers, contractors, smallholders and rural businesses.

Browse our workwear and PPE collection, explore agricultural parts and equipment, or view our wider range of farm supplies and essentials.

For help finding a suitable product, call 01535 603361 or visit the trade counter at Unit 1 Worth Enterprise Park, Valley Road, Keighley, BD21 4LN.

This article provides general information only. PPE must be selected through an appropriate risk assessment and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Seek competent health-and-safety advice where necessary.