Farmers Weekly reader safety tip: Use a tennis ball to keep trailers safe

Derbyshire farmer Keith Harrop has won the Farmers Weekly farm safety tip of the month competition, which is run in association with Buckler Boots.

Mr Harrop’s safety tip is one designed to keep trailer lights and brakes in good working order.

“When towing a trailer, the hooks on the end of the tractor’s lift arms often get hold of the brake pipe and trailer lights cable, fraying them and sometimes pulling them from the tractor, leaving the trailer with no light signals or brakes.

See also: Farmers Weekly reader safety tip: A quick call saves lives

“My simple solution is to put tennis balls on to the hook ends of the arms, making it impossible for them to grab the pipes. They fit perfectly.”

Mr Harrop farms at New Farm, Alport, near Bakewell. His prize is a pair of boots from the Buckler Boots range.


If you have a safety tip you would like to share, that might help raise awareness of the dangers of working in agriculture, then send it to jonathan.riley@rbi.co.uk.

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Every month the person who sends in the best tip for our online health and safety page will win a pair of Buckler Boots.