Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Agriculture
Welcome to the second edition of HSE’s Agriculture E-bulletin.
The aim of the E-bulletin is to provide you with a free regular update of news and information from the Health & Safety Executive, keeping you informed of the latest issues affecting agriculture and it’s associated industries.
Below, you will find brief information on a number of topics or issues, each linking to more detailed articles on our website.
Thank you to those of you who provided feedback on the first edition – we have tried to incorporate as many of the suggestions as possible.
We plan on issuing futher E-bulletin’s on a quarterly basis and would also welcome any suggestions/contributions for future articles.
Figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in its annual report ‘Fatal Injuries in Farming, Forestry and Horticulture 2004/05’ show that 47 people were killed as a result of farming and other agriculture-related activities in 2004/05.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning farmers to take extra care when using transport over the summer months. Transport activities account for the largest number of fatal accidents on farms, with two thirds of such incidents occurring between May and October.
With three child deaths so far this year involving transport, Roger Nourish warns of the dangers that face children on the farm and provides some timely advice on keeping them safe.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published the results of a study on stress and its effects on farmers and farm workers. Using case studies, the report shows the wide range of pressures faced by farmers, their families, and farm workers. Some of those interviewed felt that they were coping well with the problems they faced in the industry, but others claimed they had suffered mental and physical ill-health as a result of stress.
In the last edition we provided a short article which alerted the industry to the recent introduction of new regulations affecting working at height. This article provides more details on the size of the problem in agriculture and provides advice on what you must do and consider when working at height.
Handling and riding horses is a satisfying and enjoyable experience, however it is important to stay safe around horses to avoid unnecessary accidents or injury. Warwickshire College in partnership with HSE have developed a distance learning training course which provides recognised qualifications in equine safety.
Jake Vowles, the Director General of the Agricultural Engineers Association, has written to show and event organisers on behalf of the manufacturers and importers of ATVs and Quadricycles seeking support to ensure that these machines are used safely at public events.
Regulations require that anyone who handles or stores (or intends to handle or store) 150 tonnes or more of ammonium nitrate or mixtures containing ammonium nitrate where the nitrogen content exceeds 15.75% of the mixture by weight should notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Find out how notification procedures have recently changes.
Click on the above title to access HSE’s suite of free guidance covering a wide-range of agriculture health and safety topics and issues.
