PRR Safety was brought in to act as the principle designer and health and safety consultant for the main contractor, GrainTek Limited.

Stetchworth Estate is a family-owned farm on the Cambridgeshire and Suffolk border, stretching over 1600 hectares. With the upcoming construction of their on-farm grain store, associate grain dryer and intake pit, PRR Safety was brought in to act as the principle designer and health and safety consultant for the main contractor, GrainTek Limited.

 

For farms of this scale, the correct grain storage facilities are vital. They ensure that harvested crops are stored correctly, maintains their quality through drying, temperature monitoring during storage and reduces reliance on external storage.

 

There were many key areas to consider with this project, from planning and groundwork through to installation. PRR Safety was chosen due to our longstanding previous experience in this area. Our proven track record of building grain stores meant that we could identify and resolve common pain-points, such as accessibility issues and safety risks associated with confined spaces. We offered practical, long-term solutions to the project’s challenges, delivering safety and efficiency at every stage.

 

During the course of the project we assisted with the planning, managing, monitoring and coordination of health and safety, significantly in the pre-construction phase. As part of this phase we conducted thorough risk assessments including a design-stage risk assessment to identify potential hazards and implement measures to eliminate or control them before the work started.

 

We collaborated closely with the designers to address any challenges, such as ensuring high-level equipment maintenance access. This included mitigating risks by making sure that all machinery could be accessible from the catwalk, thereby providing a safe long-term solution for maintenance and servicing.

 

One of the unique challenges of the project was poor access to the tail end of some of the grain handling equipment. Confined or hard-to-reach spaces may pose safety hazards if not designed properly. We advised on design modifications to improve accessibility in order to prevent any future safety and operational issues.

 

At the end of the project, we produced a comprehensive residual risk assessment, providing the client with clear guidance on managing any remaining risks associated with the facility.

 

We made sure to address any safety challenges from the outset of the project, maintaining clear communication with our client and the contractor to provide an efficient process. The project was a success and the facility now provides Stetchworth Estate with secure, on-farm, modern grain storage.