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26 January 2005 - Farm Vehicles Safety
Campaign Disappointing
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A recent campaign by the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's)
Agricultural Health and Safety Inspectors in North Devon and West Somerset
resulted in disappointment. The 16 inspectors involved in the
campaign, having spot checked 72 farms over a 2 day period, issued the
following:
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29 Improvement Notices within the areas of poor conditions of
farm vehicles such as poor brakes and missing mirrors.
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4 Prohibition Notices within telehandlers and related machinery
and maintenance of tractors.
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10 Prohibition Notices for power take off shafts which were
unsuitably guarded.
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14 Improvement Notices within quad bikes, 6 requiring training
and 8 requiring head gear protection whilst riding.
Officials attending also noted, that the majority of farmers
recognised the importance of regular vehicle maintenance, correct training of
farm vehicle operatives and the importance of correct management of health and
safety, to avoid the very high level of fatalities on farms. The
Inspectors registered the fact, that there had been an improvement in awareness
of the need for health and safety training on farmland.
An HSE Inspector commented:
"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."
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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