HSE Announce Increase in Farm Inspections

back to News

Mat Beale (Chippenham)

During October, the HSE announced an increase in farm inspections throughout the winter and into spring 2024.

These inspections will focus on the main causes of death and serious injuries including falls from height, equipment used and their maintenance.  HSE see the winter period as a time when general farm maintenance is carried out including repairs to buildings and roofs, along with emergency repairs being carried out due to weather damage.

HSE’s guidance for work at height include:

  • Avoid work at height wherever possible.  Do as much as you can from the ground, e.g., use extending equipment to clear gutters.
  • Avoid doing the work yourself.  Use a professional contractor with the knowledge, skills, equipment, and experience to safely work at height on buildings, roofs, and structures
  • On the rare occasions where roof work or building maintenance at height cannot be avoided or done by competent contractors or specialist professionals, make sure the work is planned and carried out by people with the right training and equipment – for example, trained and experienced people using a mobile elevating work platform or scaffolding.
  • Don’t be tempted to use the wrong equipment.  Being lifted on the forks or bucket of a telehandler or forklift truck is illegal, as is walking or working on fragile roof materials.
  • Fragile materials should have prominent warning signs to alert anyone working in the vicinity. 
  • Unsafe work at height really is not worth the risk.  Make sure that work at height risks is controlled on your farm, properly planned, and using the correct equipment.
  • Ensure that all controls and policies are in place to ensure your farm is a safe working environment, promoting safe working practices to all employees.  Then if HSE should call, these inspections will be completed with no bother.

If you require further assistance to ensure that you are following the correct procedures, and have all health and safety policies in place, please contact Mat at mathewbeale@fcgagric.com

Categories