With one of the highest fatal injury statistics of any industry in the UK, it has never been more crucial for the agricultural sector to ensure fully qualified engineering inspections are implemented and that they meet Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulations.
Of the 114 workers killed in the workplace in the last year, 29 were employed in agriculture, making it second only to the construction industry for recorded fatal injuries, according to RIDDOR figures*.
With the main kinds of fatal injuries including being struck by moving vehicles or objects, or contact with moving machinery, the threat to health and safety caused by machinery failure should not be underestimated.
While most farmers will regularly maintain and check machinery and farm vehicles, independent engineering inspections are advised, and are a requirement for lifting equipment.
The agriculture sector has, in the past, raised concerns of inspections being carried out by engineers with no direct experience of operating or maintaining the farm machinery involved.
With a team of agricultural engineers and inspectors all coming from a farming background, the engineering division at insurance brokers Farmers & Mercantile applies sound practical knowledge to its inspection services. All inspection engineers are also certified by Lloyds British.
The engineering division undertakes PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998) and LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998) inspections, to ensure all lifting equipment complies with HSE regulations.
James Baimbridge, machinery inspection engineer with Farmers & Mercantile, explains, “The inspections are designed not only to identify performance compromising issues with the potential to become dangerous, but also to provide each machine with a comprehensive service history.
“This service history can benefit when selling on machinery, and also provide evidence of a machine’s general condition if involved in an accident, for any subsequent insurance claims.”
Accidents will be investigated by HSE and if any areas of negligence are identified prosecutions and fines will follow. The Farmers & Mercantile engineering inspection division can help avoid this situation.
Meet the team at LAMMA 2019 (Hall 10, Stand 10.520) to discuss your requirements or call 01604 782782 for more details. Visit www.fandmgroup.co.uk
