Enforcement
A specialist group of inspectors exist for inspection of the Agriculture sector. Inspection campaigns over recent years have found that levels of compliance in the sector are slowly increasing. However, the sector continues to experience a disproportionately high level of fatal accidents.
In 2010 the HSA carried out 1700 farm inspections. During those inspections Improvement Notices and Prohibition Notices were issued..
Notices
An Improvement Notice is a legal directive from an inspector requiring that certain improvements be carried out in a specified time-frame to comply with the law.
A Prohibition Notice is a legal instruction directing that a specified work activity be stopped due to the level of danger apparent in that activity during an inspection.
The following areas are specifically targeted for enforcement by our inspectors during their visits.
- Completion of the Farm Safety Statement /Code of Practice Risk Assessment.
- Machinery guarding , PTO's and fixed plant.
- Safe animal handling facilities.
- Maintenance of farmyard facilities, slurry tanks,sheds, walls, gates, roofs, safe access and egress, working at heights.
- Identification of particular risk groups and high-risk activities.
- Issues affecting the elderly and young persons/children on the farm.