18 March 2004 - Monday 22nd to Friday 26 March - Agricultural Safety Blitz in Shropshire
HSE inspectors will be targeting farms situated in the south-west of the country with Shropshire being the latest, from Monday 22 March to Friday 26 March. The focus will be on workplace transport issues, such as the use of all-terrain vehicles and telescopic handlers. Other areas will be the control of risk associated with manual handling, livestock handling, working at height, the storage of pesticides and the safety of children on site.
Dr Phil Smith, HM Principal Inspector for Agriculture, Shropshire, commented:
“Agriculture remains a
hazardous industry in which to work and 38 people were killed while working
in it in 2002/03. Prevention of this tragic loss of life is usually simple
and not costly. Rushing a job such as repairing a roof or clearing a machine
blockage without taking straightforward precautions or using the right
protective equipment, often leads to injury or even death. It is important
that we get the health and safety message across to all who work in the
industry and Safety Awareness Days are one means of doing this. This is why
farmers in south west Shropshire, who have not recently attended one of
these events, will be the main focus of our inspection visits next week.
We are keen to work with farmers to reduce accidents and ill health by
changing attitudes and work practices and trying to persuade employers, the
self-employed and workers to think about the consequences of their actions.
Inspectors will offer help and advice, but we will not hesitate to take a
firm line where unsafe conditions are found in the farmyard or field.”
