Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Agriculture
Welcome to the sixth edition of HSE’s Agriculture E-bulletin.
The aim of the E-bulletin is to provide you with a free regular update of news and information from the Health & Safety Executive, keeping you informed of the latest issues affecting agriculture and it’s associated industries.
Below, you will find brief information on a number of topics or issues, each linking to more detailed articles on our website – simply click on the article’s title to read the full text or to access the linked documents.
We plan on issuing futher E-bulletin’s on a quarterly basis and would also welcome any suggestions/contributions for future articles.
Guidance for employers in agriculture and food processing: HSE has produced a new leaflet which gives essential guidance to employers, employment agencies, employment businesses, gangmasters and other labour providers on their responsibilities for the health, safety and welfare of temporary (including migrant) workers.
HSE has recently produced the above DVD compilations, which are available from HSE Books. ‘Vehicle Safety on Farms’: a compilation of five HSE training films that look at safety with farm vehicles, plus a series of short Worksmart stories that have appeared on HSE’s website. ‘Kidsafe’: a compilation of three child-safety films and Worksmart stories, ideal for both primary and young secondary school children, youth clubs, employers, farmers, construction firms, parents and other relatives.
HSE has produced revised and updated guidance for farmers, farm workers and others involved in dipping sheep to help protect their health and the environment. The booklet takes a step by step approach to help users consider the range of products that are available to treat sheep ectoparasites, and how to control risks to health, with particular emphasis on the use of engineering controls, safe systems of work and personal protective clothing for the use of dips.
HSE has revised and updated leaflet AS31 to incorporate new advice for farmers, workers and other animal handlers who are required to administer veterinary medicines. The leaflet will help those who administer such products to do so safely and ensure that health risks are properly controlled.
A major HSE campaign is launched this month (October 2007) to raise awareness and target accidents caused by falls from vehicles. While it is primarily aimed at the haulage business, there are significant numbers of accidents in the agricultural industry that could be prevented if simple control measures were adopted.
A new DVD to help make getting potatoes from field to fork safer has been sent to all British Potato Council registered growers and NAAC members. Safe Potato Handling, with optional subtitles in Polish, Portuguese, Latvian and Lithuanian, has been made by the BPC with support from the HSE, NFU and Grimme UK. Further details can be found on the FWi website by following the link above.
Last year four agricultural workers died after contacting overhead lines; two of which were migrant workers. Find out how to work safely near overhead lines by downloading the FREE booklet 'Shock Horror: Safe working near overhead power lines in agriculture'. Alternatively, click on the heading above for lots more FREE information on how to work safely near electricity.
Professor Dame Carol Black, National Director for Health and Work has been asked to undertake a review of the health of the working age population. The website above, seeks to obtain views and contributions. HSE support this review and would like to encourage participation from our stakeholders and the wider industry on their views and information about prevention of work related harm, as well as assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and other aspects of the broader health and work agenda.
Click on the above title to access HSE’s suite of free guidance covering a wide-range of agriculture health and safety topics and issues.
