HSE PUBLISHES PESTICIDES INCIDENT 2002/03 REPORT

HSE press release E200:03 - 13 October 2003

The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Pesticides Incident Report for 2002/03 published today, shows that its inspectors investigated 215 reported pesticide incidents in the year ending 31 March 2003.

Sixty incidents involved allegations of ill health, three less than in the previous year. The remaining 155 incidents involved other complaints about the use of pesticides. The total of 215 incidents is an increase of 48 over 2001/02.

Sixty incidents involving allegations of ill health is the lowest annual total recorded to date. HSE's Pesticide Incidents Appraisal Panel (PIAP) has so far considered 38 of these cases. It was unable to confirm a link between the allegation of ill health and exposure to pesticides in any of the cases but classified the link as 'likely' in 5 cases.

HSE Inspectors issued a total of 81 enforcement notices under pesticide legislation during the year and a total of 4 Informations were laid before the Courts. Convictions were secured against all the Informations for which the average fine imposed by the Courts was £1,250 compared with an average of £1,064 for 2001/02.

As in previous years, complaints from members of the public about spray drift from the application of agricultural pesticides represent the largest category of incidents investigated by HSE inspectors.

Allegations that spraying has taken place in adverse weather conditions (generally when the wind speed is too high) and/or of failure to notify neighbours of an intended application, figure prominently and some of the case studies in the report again focus on these issues. The case studies also draw attention to the issues of user competence and training and of pesticide storage.

Commenting on the report, HM Chief Agricultural Inspector, Linda Williams said: "An increase in the number of incidents reported to and investigated by the HSE is always disappointing, but the small reduction recorded in those cases involving allegations of ill health is to be welcomed.

"The figures vary a lot from year-to-year and those for 2002/3 almost certainly reflect the increased level of activity and of access to the countryside following the Foot and Mouth outbreak the previous year. It remains difficult to detect any long-term trend.

"As in previous years, most complaints are from members of the public about agricultural crop spraying. I strongly advise farmers to avoid spraying in adverse weather conditions, to ensure that they and any of their employees who carry out spraying are properly trained and competent and to give prior notification of the intention to apply pesticides to the occupiers of land, houses and other premises close to the target crop. These factors all contribute to minimising spray drift and reassuring neighbours and members of the public about possible ill health effects from pesticides."

Copies of "Pesticide Incidents Report 2002/03" are available on the website.

Note To Editors

1. Guidance for sprayers and other users of agricultural pesticides is contained in the 'Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Pesticides on Farms and Holdings' (The Green Code), published by the Department for Food, the Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

2. Guidance to members of the public on how to report an incident if they think people, animals or the environment have been harmed by exposure to pesticides is available in a free leaflet from the Health and Safety Executive. INDG141(rev1) 'Reporting incidents of exposure to pesticides and veterinary medicines'. It can be downloaded on http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg141.pdf

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