This edition covers ATV training and a potentially serious issue with the handbrake on some models; flags up the Government's 'Red Tape Challenge’ and highlights what industry leaders have been doing to improve British farming’s poor safety record.
Being struck by bales is a common cause of injury and so particular care should be taken when handling them. Use properly designed, constructed and maintained bale-handling equipment; and transport them on trailers and vehicles that allow loads to be secured. Build stable stacks and check them regularly to ensure they stay that way.
The Government's Red Tape Challenge gives people the chance to have their say on regulations that affect their everyday lives and is an opportunity for people to directly influence the future of health and safety regulation.
HSE has issued an information sheet on 'Preventing or controlling ill health from animal contact at visitor attractions'. It provides advice for those responsible for premises where members of the public, including children, are encouraged to view, touch or pet animals.
At least 16 ATV riders were killed in the ten years up to April 2009 in agriculture, with an estimated 1000 per annum suffering serious injuries. HSE research indicates that more than half of all ATV riders have, at some time, overturned their ATV. Making sure that all ATV operators have had the appropriate training is vital for a number of reasons not least because it is a legal requirement. There are a range of training providers offering a range of courses to suit everyone's needs including:
Guidance on the safe use of ATVs in agriculture is provided in AIS38 Safe Use of ATVs in Agriculture and Forestry.
The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) has written to owners of road-approved quadricycles to inform them of a potential problem with certain vehicles fitted with hydraulic parking brakes. Department for Transport research has shown that hydraulic parking brakes fitted to certain models of quadricycle might fail causing the vehicle to roll away if parked on an incline for a period of time. The problem only affects quadricycles steered by a handlebar (rather that a steering wheel) and fitted with a hydraulic parking brake. Typically, this will be a device that locks one of the hydraulic brake levers in place. Vehicles fitted with a mechanical parking brake or an automatic gearbox transmission lock are not affected.
Anyone concerned about their quadricycle should contact the vehicle manufacturer for further advice.
Agriculture industry leaders recently launched a Farm Safety Charter as part of their initiative to address the poor safety record in British Farming. The Industry Safety Partnership are working together to raise awareness of the dangers faced by those working in agriculture and also to provide guidance, advice and training.
We will be running another programme of events this year. Farmers and workers can take advantage of free practical advice on how to address some of the day to day dangers on the farm. 98% of farmers who have attended a SHAD say that they would recommend them to others
Keep a look out on our diary page for one near you.
Royal Welsh Show 18-21 July 2011 - this year we will be based in NFU Cymru's pavilion, where our staff will be on hand to answer your health and safety queries.
A Stonehaven animal grain company has been fined after one of its workers fell from an excavator bucket onto a concrete floor, sustaining serious head injuries.
A father and daughter who own and run a farm in Hertfordshire have been fined after an employee fell five metres through a fragile barn roof onto the concrete floor below and suffered multiple fractures.
A farming company has been fined after a man was electrocuted while working on farmland near Ludgershall in Wiltshire. Whilst, harvesting crops at Chute Farm, Upper Chute when he received the fatal shock on 6 August 2007. Farm managers Velcourt Ltd was prosecuted by HSE, as the firm was responsible for both the recruitment of casual farm workers, and for managing health and safety on site.
Farm owner C and P Bird Brothers Ltd, were fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £5,500 costs after a construction worker suffered serious burns following an electric shock from an overhead power cable. Self-employed steel erecter Mark Rushbrook was constructing two new poultry units at Sunny Farm in Swineshead, Bedfordshire. He was using a scissor lift to clad the gable end of a steel frame when it came into contact with a power cable and he suffered an 11kv electrical shock.
Like all public bodies, HSE is looking to deliver services in a more efficient way in line with the Government’s approach to providing effective services online.
HSE has therefore announced important changes to Infoline and the Incident Contact Centre.
The Infoline public enquiry telephone service will end on 30 September 2011. All HSE information and advice will continue to be available via an improved website.
With effect from 12 September 2011, statutory reporting to HSE of work-related injuries and incidents under RIDDOR will move to a predominantly on-line system.
Online forms will be available on the HSE website to make the process of reporting injuries and incidents quicker and easier.
HSE has announced important changes to Infoline and the Incident Contact Centre.
The Guardian recently ran an article on the poor safety record in British farming.
