27.02.2007

HSE blitz Scottish farms

Scotland's farmers are being warned to take extra care when working at height. HSE Inspectors have started carrying out a series of intensive farm inspections, throughout the country, focusing on buildings maintenance and other work at height, including regular tasks such as filling diesel tanks.

Inspectors will make unannounced visits to farms. Although they will check on other safety critical issues during their visits, they will pay particular attention to prevention of falls from height.

This will include the planning and arrangements in place before work begins, but will also look at whether steps have been taken to avoid work at height in the first place.

According to the HSE 13 percent of all fatal accidents on farms involve falls. HSE's objective is to prevent some of the tragedies this figure represents by ensuring, for example, that building maintenance following winter gales do not add to this dreadful toll.

Principal Agriculture Inspector Cheryl Anthony commented:
"Every year there are needless deaths and disabling injuries in agriculture when farmers and workers take risks at height. The problem usually starts with lack of planning or poor planning. As a result, the right equipment may not be available and corners are cut. The risks, for example of falling from a ladder that is not suitable for the job in hand, or of falling through or off roofs, are usually fairly obvious. Sorting out the right controls may take time, and farmers should resist the temptation to start work before they have the right equipment”

"Farmers need to ensure they take sensible steps to manage risks. To help farmers do this HSE has produced a free Farmsafe risk assessment software tool available on the 'Agriculture' home page on HSE's website: www.hse.gov.uk

The tool helps farmers identify the control measures relevant to fall from height risks, and includes links to published practical guidance. However, farmers may need to recognise that some work really ought to be done by an experienced, competent contractor, who will provide the right equipment for the job."