Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Agriculture
The case studies in this section are all real incidents with real and sometimes fatal consequences for the people involved. The case studies concentrate on some of the key themes being targeted by HSE and include;
It is important that we all learn from accidents and the misfortune of those involved - so that other farmers, workers and their families can avoid the loss of a loved one and the pain and financial costs of an accident on their own farm.
The case studies in this section include the fines and costs awarded where there was a prosecution. The real cost of the accidents is much higher than this; the pain and suffering, the time off work, damaged equipment, replacement staff costs, lost produce, increased insurance premiums and offenders' own legal costs far exceed this figure. Taking precautions to avoid it happening to you makes legal, moral and financial sense.
Transport and transport related accidents are the largest single cause of fatal injuries in the agricultural sector. The most common scenarios involve moving vehicles and being trapped or crushed when vehicles overturn. Many of these accidents are caused by a lack of operator training and poor visibility. The following examples show how easily deaths and serious injuries can occur, but just as importantly, how some straightforward steps could have prevented them from occurring.
Employees & visitors need to be made aware of safety rules at visited sites
An employee died when he was crushed against a mobile cleaning machine by a forklift truck.
The second largest cause of fatal accidents over the past ten years has been falls from heights. Many of these involve maintenance of, or alterations to, buildings.
Use suitable lifting equipment
An employee was injured after falling from an unsecured potato box that was being used as a work platform on the forks of a raised FLT.
Agriculture has one of the highest fatal accident rates of any industry in the UK. It is also the only high-risk industry that has to deal with the constant presence of children. Farms are homes as well as workplaces. Visitors to the countryside, many of them children, are often present on farm whilst work activities are being carried out. The following Case Studies reflect not only the dangers on farm but also the dangers to children from the use of common farm machienry and equipment and common farming activities.
Over the past year, six people have been killed after they came into contact with unguarded machinery or had attempted to clear blockages or work on machinery that was still operating.
On average two people are killed and many more are injured every year when they come into contact with overhead power lines (OHPLs) during agricultural work. Contact with them rarely results in just minor injury. Machinery (such as combines, tipping trailers and irrigators), equipment (such as irrigation pipes and ladders) and activities (such as stacking) are often involved. The following cases highlight the dangers involved in working near and with electricity:
Over a ten-year period incidents involving tree work have resulted in 49 fatalities (12%). Tree work needs to be carried out by competent people who have received adequate training. A specialist contractor should carry out any work that involves tree climbing or work at height.
For details of fatal injuries see HSE's 'Fatal Injuries in farming, forestry and horticulture' annual reports which are available under the information section.