Lawford Kidd's Blog

Around 1.3 million workers suffered from work related ill-health and there were 609,000 workplace injuries in 2016/17, according to the latest annual statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

One hundred and ninety one people lost their lives in accidents on Scotland’s roads in 2016, according to the latest figures released by Transport Scotland. This is an increase of 14 fatalities over the number killed in 2015.

New figures from the Department for Transport have revealed that 1,792 people were killed in reported road traffic accidents across Britain in 2016.

It was alarming to hear that a significant number of drivers are still putting themselves and other road users at risk by continuing to use handheld mobile phones behind the wheel.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a new inspection initiative targeting the agricultural sector, and potato farmers in particular, to remind them of the importance of managing risks to workers during the potato harvest.

HSE inspectors will be visiting farms across the country that grow, pick and process potatoes over the next few months to ensure risks during the harvesting season are being controlled and measures are in place to protect farmers and their workers.

 

The initiative announcement comes after the latest HSE statistics show that there have been 30 deaths on farms in Great Britain over the last 12 months. Incidents during potato harvesting season remain a common cause of serious and fatal injury and recurring causes include entanglement with dangerous parts of machines, being struck or run over by vehicles and falls from height.

 

Throughout the inspection initiative, inspectors will be checking:

 

 

“The risks during potato harvesting are well-known but the precautions are straightforward,” explained HSE’s head of agriculture, Rick Brunt. “Farmers and their employees need to work together to make sure equipment is safe and work is well-planned. This inspection initiative is about ensuring those participating in any harvesting activity remain safe and go home from their work healthy.”

 

For expert legal advice on claiming compensation following a farming injury then contact our specialist personal injury lawyers today.