SCO/125/08 7 August 2008

Keep your eyes peeled during tattie harvest

As Scotland celebrates the United Nation’s International Year of the Potato 2008 at a conference tomorrow (Friday 8 August) in Dundee, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is reminding farmers to ensure they take appropriate safety precautions when harvesting their potato crop.

Agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries to work in and has one of the worst fatal accident and occupational ill health records of any major employment sector.  Last year there were approximately 8.1 deaths per 100,000 workers across the UK, where as the equivalent number in construction was approx. 3.7 deaths per 100,000 workers.

HSE Inspector Lawrence Murray said:

"Farming is a risky business.  Within the agricultural industry the level of death and injury to farmers, workers, and members of the public is unacceptable.

"In 2006/07, 31 workers in Scotland lost their life at work and 2702 workers were seriously injured – of these, seven fatalities and 61 serious injuries were in the agricultural sector.

"However almost all of work related accidents can be avoided as the risks and precautions are well known.  There is no excuse for poor maintenance of machinery or lack of guarding during the potato harvest.

"Potatoes are one of Scotland’s main crops and we hold a good reputation for our high quality produce.  Now let’s build up a good reputation for ensuring the health, safety and well-being of our farm workers."

HSE Inspector Lawrence Murray offered the following safety advice to agricultural workers during this year’s harvest:

• Chemical spraying  - spraying of the haulm will begin shortly across the country.  In order to avoid acid itch remember to inform occupants of the local area including schools and residents.
• Misuse of machinery - regardless of experience, remember to cut out the engine of the harvester before opening the guards and ensure that guard rails are in place to prevent pickers from falling.
• Don’t jump on or off the harvester when its moving.
• Don’t leave the driving position of a moving or running tractor.
• Overhead power lines - do not park or carry out maintenance when under or near overhead power lines.
• Children on farms - do not allow children on or near the harvester.
• Grading machine - again ensure guards are always in place, covering dangerous parts of machinery, e.g. chain and sprockets, vee belts and pulley drives.
• Dust extraction should be used to minimize the dust.  Don’t sweep dust, vacuum clean workrooms. 
• Working at height – when the harvest is complete and packed into boxes, always ensure adequate and safe access in case you need to reach the potatoes, for example to take a sample or measure the temperature for quality control purposes 

Last year the HSE supported the Potato Council (formerly the British Potato Council) along with the National Farmers Union (NFU) and Grimme UK to launch a Safe Potato Handling DVD.  Optional subtitles are available in Polish, Portuguese, Latvian and Lithuanian in order to explain the safety risks to Migrant workers. 

Notes to editors

• The International Year of the Potato http://www.potato2008.org/ will raise awareness of the importance of the potato - and of agriculture in general - in addressing issues of global concern, including hunger, poverty and threats to the environment.
• The conference will take place on 8 August in Dundee and is organised by the Scottish Crop research Institute http://www.scri.ac.uk/news/yearofthepotato and supported by the Potato Council http://www.potato.org.uk/.  The main theme of the conference is improving international potato production.
• More information on health and safety in agriculture can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/index.htm
• A new pocket card aimed at migrant workers in agriculture and food processing is available in a number of languages which provides basic and essential information on rights and responsibilities under British health and safety legislation.. http://www.hse.gov.uk/migrantworkers/worker.htm#pocketcard. 
• For further details on latest HSE statistics in Scotland, see the summary of statistics of occupational ill health, safety and enforcement 2006/07 at http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/regions/scotland.htm
• HSE published the latest annual work related fatal injury statistics on 26 July 2007 which can be viewed at:http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/index.htm

Public enquiries

Call HSE's InfoLine, Tel: 08701 545500,
or write to: HSE InfoLine, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.

Press enquiries (Journalists only)

News desk: Katy Jeffrey 0131 244 9062
Out of hours: 020 7928 8382

HSE information and press releases can be accessed on the Internet: http://www.hse.gov.uk

Information on HSE in Scotland can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/scotland

Issued on behalf of HSE by COI News and PR Scotland.