HEALTH AND SAFETY INSPECTORS 'BLITZ' FARMS IN SHROPSHIRE

HSE press release: E098:03 - 12 June 2003

Farmers in Shropshire can expect a visit from a health and safety inspector to check the safety of their farms and outlying buildings.

A team of seven agricultural inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will be out in force in the north and west of the county for a week from next Monday (16 June). They will be conducting field checks and yard inspections as part of an inspection programme aimed at reducing the toll of accidents and ill health in the agricultural sector.

The inspectors will be paying particular attention to workplace transport, manual handling, especially of livestock, and working at heights. They will also look at the safety of children on the site and the use of plant and equipment. The visits are particularly aimed at those who were invited to HSE's Safety Awareness Day held at Walford and North Shropshire College last year, and did not attend.

Dr Phil Smith, HM Principal Inspector for Agriculture, said: "It is important that we get the health and safety message across to all who work in the industry. Safety Awareness Days are one means of doing this because they demonstrate what can go wrong and the precautions to take.

"We need to put the same messages over to those who were invited and didn't attend, and so they are a priority for inspection during this week. Although HSE inspectors will offer help and advice, they will not hesitate to take action to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements."

Copies of the leaflet "Farmwise: your essential guide to health and safety in agriculture'' MISC165, single copies free, can be ordered online at: http://books.hse.gov.uk

Press enquiries

All enquiries from journalists should be directed to the HSE Press Office