An agriculture safety chief has issued a warning to farmers of the danger of ignoring simple life-saving advice to wear a helmet when riding an all-terrain vehicle (ATV).
The safety warning comes after a nasty accident in which a teenage farm worker suffered a serious head wound when the quad bike he was driving overturned.
The 17-year-old farm worker from Cumbria had been contracted by family farming partnership JF & M Bland, of Dacre, Penrith, to carry out general agricultural duties. He was instructed to use the firm's quad bike to access a large sloping field. The bike overturned and he was trapped underneath it for an hour before one of the partners found him. He had a laceration to his head that needed 17 stitches.
Carlisle Magistrates' Court heard that JF & M Bland had failed to provide the worker with any training as to how to use the quad bike, nor was he given a protective helmet to wear.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out an investigation into the circumstances of the accident and proceeded to prosecute JF & M Bland. The firm pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 9(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, which states that 'every employer shall ensure that all persons who use work equipment have received adequate training for purposes of health and safety, including training in the methods which may be adopted when using the work equipment, any risks which such use may entail and precautions to be taken'.
JF & M Bland was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,693.
Rick Brunt, head of agriculture at the HSE, said, "Vehicle-related accidents are a significant problem in agriculture and one of the biggest killers. Only people who are trained and capable should operate all-terrain vehicles, like quad bikes. Every year, on average, we see two deaths and numerous injuries involving ATVs."
HSE inspector Matthew Tinsley, who investigated and prosecuted for the HSE, added, "This is a reminder to all farmers and farm workers that it just isn't worth taking unnecessary risk. Training is vital, as is head protection. This is simple, common sense advice that, if followed, can save lives."
For further information on ATV safety, see http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ais33.pdf.
Contact Dean Parnell at Sydney Mitchell if you would like advice on any of the issues raised in this article or on any other HSE, commercial or employment law matter.
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