‘Poor attitude’ to health and safety lands poultry firm and contractors in hot water

Dukes Fit

Member
Location
Aberdeenshire
Not sure if I agree. Yes what you suggest will show you have taken steps and reduce risk
, but if something goes wrong on your business there is a reason and you have to show that reasonable steps were taken to avoid risk not just have the paper work in place. Even having a qualified person overseeing the contractor wont work if there is an accident as he obviously did not do his job and you were responsible for him.

If you see someone doing something silly and dangerous on your farm you should stop them its common sense.

With the benifit if hindsight most accidents are foreseeable.

Which is exactly what I have written. "Reasonably practicable"

There is no "get out of jail free" card but so long as you have taken reasonable steps to ensure that safety has been enforced then you are in the clear.

The whole point of it is to make safety a joint responsibility. Many will disagree with me but to a degree I agree with the sharing of liability if only because it makes people stop and think before carrying on ... Which is the whole point of it.
 
Location
Suffolk
Another example.
I am having an extension on the house. A builder is doing the job. A professional scaffolding team came and erected the scaffold. How would I know what is acceptable when erecting scaffold?
If it's a private residence I understand it's the builders responsibility but with a farm where the house is used as part of the business then I assume I would be responsible for their actions.


For a scaffolding right now; A Scafftag is required. This is part of the newest ruling for the safety element of scaffolding hire. It comes with the professional bit of scaffold erectors and is tied/hooked to your scaffold and lasts one week. Go from there....
Some contractors will not work on platforms without this being current as their liability insurance would be void.

See this;http://www.scafftag.co.uk/inspections-advice/working-at-height/scaffolding.html

Look at the CDM rules too.
SS
 

Exfarmer

Member
Location
Bury St Edmunds
A farmer cannot executed to be fully conversant in all aspects of H&S.
So the first thing he/ she should do is to inform all contractors by written letter that they are expected to follow all relevant H&S rules.
If you are lending builders your teleporter it will be up the farmer that the machine is fit for purpose particularly if a man cage is involved.
Any glaring breaches of H&S such as walking about on unrailed roofs must be stopped immediately.
However the necessity of netting would not automatically be assumed, that a farmer should know it is essential on fibre cement but not on steel unless roof lights were present.
However if the farmer should have known ie he had been made aware by an inspector, or possibly reading this, then he could be liable.
If the building co goes bust and had not paid its insurance , the farmer could be liable and if he was at fault his own insurers would not necessarily pay out :(
 

Exfarmer

Member
Location
Bury St Edmunds
For a scaffolding right now; A Scafftag is required. This is part of the newest ruling for the safety element of scaffolding hire. It comes with the professional bit of scaffold erectors and is tied/hooked to your scaffold and lasts one week. Go from there....
Some contractors will not work on platforms without this being current as their liability insurance would be void.

See this;http://www.scafftag.co.uk/inspections-advice/working-at-height/scaffolding.html

Look at the CDM rules too.
SS
Of course it does seem, to me at least , that scaffolders are in a league of their own when it comes to H&S. :)
 

thesilentone

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Cumbria
After many years indirectly and directly involved in the construction industry, I am afraid you can thank those Companies and individuals in the original post for the over regulated situation we are in today. UK Construction still has an atrocious track record for deaths per year despite every effort to reduce them. Why, because of those who believe they know better, or have not priced the job correctly and allowed for the right levels of safety on-site, in other words, Cowboys. The sooner they go out of business the better off we'll all be............................It's not only H&S they cut costs on !

In addition to some of the comments made on H&S: To ' mitigate ' the on-site H&S and other risks in the construction trade a ' Principal Contractor ' is appointed by the buyer/owner/funder. For a company to take on this role there is a whole raft of competencies and insurances they must hold. It is also there responsibility to appoint a 'CDM Coordinator' who's specific task is to ensure all regulations for working on a safe site are followed, this includes H&S.

However, can your average 'farm-shed' justify this top heavy belt a braces approach-unlikely.
So, what is the solution ?

1) Make a design that complies with today's regulations (I think you may find there are new ones for farm buildings relating to CE marking, I'm not sure.)
2) Tender the supply and erection, clearly indicating the ' scope of supply ' required. This should include everything, to local reputable companies who have a strong history and skilled workers.

Do NOT lend tackle to cut corners or save cost, it could well cost you in the long-run.

Or

If you are to erect your own building, simply follow the H&S rules that are out there, if you can't be bothered to look and check then follow the advice given and get someone to do it for you.
 
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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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