Work accident news
25/04/2008

Farming company fined over harvester accident

A Ludlow magistrate's court have ordered a farming company to pay out £8,800 after a Shropshire teenage lost his arm as the result of a 2005 agricultural work accident.

The company pleaded guilty to two separate offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act; failure to provide an appropriate risk assessment and failure to ensure safe working equipment. It is understood that had these two processes been undertaken, the work accident would probably have been avoided.

The amputation work injury happened in October of 2005 when the sleeve of the worker became caught in the blades of a harvester, eventually drawing his arm in and leading it to be severed beneath the elbow.

The prosecuting solicitor commented on the case, "Ensuring operators knew correct procedures over guards and when to turn off the power should have been done during the risk assessment and put on warning signs."

"[The injured worker] was only 17 at the time of the accident and risk assessment should take into consideration that he had not yet fully matured. A risk assessment should not be locked away in a cupboard. Employers have to make sure that people actually understand it."

74 workplace accidents involving the same harvester have already been recorded, and the defendant in the case said that this may in part be attributable to inherent problems with the machinery.

Personal injury lawyers are said to be acting for the injured farm worker and will soon mount a work accident compensation claim.