Teenage student at risk of injury

Date:

23 November 2010

Release No:

HSE-E-45

A Writtle agricultural college has been prosecuted today for potentially endangering a teenage student.

Chelmsford Magistrates Court heard how John Huntley, 19 at the time of the incident on 11 August 2009, was carrying out six months of practical work at the college's farm when he was able to use a baling machine with no guarding.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the baler had previously been used numerous times without the guard and there was a lack of training, monitoring and supervision.

Writtle College, of Lordship Lane, Chelmsford, admitted a charge of breaching Section 2(1) Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and was fined £7,000 and breaching Regulation 11 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. and fined £5,000, with £1,986.65 costs.

HSE inspector, Keith Waller, said:

"This part of the machine, known as a power take off (PTO) shaft is a common cause of serious injuries in farming. When a piece of clothing - which can be as small as a single thread - touches a spinning PTO shaft, it can be pulled around very rapidly, dragging the clothing and the person wearing into the shaft and often resulting in loss of limb or death.

"As an agricultural college, training the farmers of the future, Writtle should take its health and safety responsibilities very seriously. The farming students that graduate from the college are entering an industry which, according to HSE statistics released last month, is now officially the UK's most dangerous industry.

"Advice and guidance is freely available to help organisations and individuals comply with the law and stay safe. HSE will not hesitate to take action against employers, including educational establishments who fail to comply with the law."

Between April 2009 and March 2010, 38 people died on British farms and there were 640 reported major injuries such as broken bones or amputations.

For more information, go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ais40.htm

Notes to editors

1. Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at work etc Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."
2. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement.

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