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| Farming transport safety |
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Farmers' vehicles warranted enforcement action
Recent work by HSE agricultural health and safety inspectors, in the execution of a farm vehicle safety campaign in North Devon and West Somerset, resulted in the issue of 57 enforcement notices. However, an improvement in awareness of the need for safety training on farms was registered by the officials, this being observed around one year after a quad bike safety campaign in the North Devon area highlighted serious problems.
16 Inspectors conducted spot-checks on 72 farms over 2 days last month, the majority of farmers recognised the importance of driver competence and of regular vehicle maintenance, the adoption of safe working practices and, importantly, the consequences of not managing risks in terms of farming's high level of fatal accidents.
Nevertheless the officials were disappointed with the poor condition of some farm vehicles, many with missing mirrors and poor brakes, such deficiencies meant 29 Improvement Notices and 4 Prohibition Notices were necessary, covering the maintenance of tractors, telehandlers and related machinery. 10 Prohibition Notices were issued for unsuitably guarded power take off shafts. 14 Improvement Notices were issued in relation to quad bikes, 6 requiring quad bike training, 8 requiring the use of head protection when riding the quad.
"Fatal accidents on farms remain at a high level and around one third of these involve transport. There are many ways in which farmers and their employees can address these issues and take some simple and inexpensive steps to help prevent these tragic incidents occurring. For example, they can improve driver competence via additional training and monitoring of practice and also by conducting regular vehicle checks and maintenance.
We were encouraged to find that there was improved general awareness amongst farmers during our visits of the need to receive formal training for driving quad bikes, compared to our findings during the February inspections. We hope that the campaign has reminded farmers of their responsibilities for health and safety in relation to both themselves and employees." - HSE Inspector.
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26.01.05
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