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25 October 2005 - HSE Publish Annual
Pesticide Incident Report
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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have published their
Annual Pesticide Incident Report for 2004/2005. The report shows the
continuing trend over past years of a fall in reported incidents alleging
ill-health from Pesticides.
The breakdown of this years' figures, in comparison to past
years, is as follows:
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150 pesticide related incidents were investigated by Inspectors.
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204.55 were investigated in 2003/04, which was 7 less than
2002/03.
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95 incidents were environmental and non-health complaints on the
use of pesticides, which was 47 less than 2003/04.
The largest category of incidents investigated, as with previous
years, comprised of public complaints where agricultural spray applications
drifted.
Notices and outcomes were as follows:
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41 Enforcement notices, of which 43 were cited as contraventions
under the pesticide legislation.
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12 Information's were laid before the courts.
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All cases had convictions secured with average fines of £1,650
for each offence.
HSE's Head of Agriculture and Food Sector, Dr. Roger Nourish
commented:
"The figures do fluctuate from year to year but there has
been a steady fall over recent years in the reported number of incidents
alleging ill health. I welcome this trend and hope that it continues in future
years.
"Whilst many factors may have influenced the figures, the
part played by the successes of the Voluntary Initiative and other industry led
programmes cannot be overlooked. I strongly advise farmers to participate in the
schemes and in particular to take part in continuous professional development
programmes."
The Pesticide Incidents Report can be accessed, in pdf format,
by clicking the following:
Pesticide Incidents 2004/05
Further information for farmers and associated industries, plus
annual incident reports can be accessed from HSE's Webpage by clicking the
following:
HSE Health and Safety in the Agriculture Industry
Further information on the storing of pesticides can be
accessed, in pdf format, from HSE's information sheet, by clicking the
following:
Guidance on Storing Pesticides for Farmers and Other Professional Users
A guidance, in pdf format, as to how to report incidents of
exposure to pesticides and veterinary medicines is available from the HSE and
can be accessed by clicking the following:
Reporting Incidents of Exposure to Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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