HSE inspection

FarmyStu

Member
Location
NE Lincs
HSE don’t ban very much at all, I’m afraid. We live in a country with a goal seeking legislative system, not a prescriptive one and I’m fairly sure that’s a good thing.

HSE do ban employers subjecting employees to excessive risk though, which is pretty much what you claim for belly clipping.
Not difficult to have quiet cattle though for tagging in situ, it just needs some effort. Or have a penning and handling system that allows safe separation.

Not that HSE have banned going into pens with cattle though - that was just the second hand reported specific (possibly uninformed or misunderstood) opinion of one inspector, based on one specific set of circumstances on one farm.

I always thought this was advice. But it seems they're doubling down on cows with calves in fields with footpaths.
 

7610 super q

Never Forgotten
Honorary Member

I always thought this was advice. But it seems they're doubling down on cows with calves in fields with footpaths.
Seems arse about face to me. They should be doubling down on walkers that insist on using footpaths with livestock in them surely ? Farmers should have adequate signs pointing out which fields have livestock in, but apparently, this is " Admitting liability ".
 

Highland Mule

Member
Livestock Farmer

I always thought this was advice. But it seems they're doubling down on cows with calves in fields with footpaths.
I saw that, and can't say I was impressed with the news reports but now see that HSE press office have themselves not done as well as they could. It's probably worth having a very good read of the HSE guidance if that sort of thing affects you: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ais17ew.pdf

I wonder if there is perhaps a bit more to the story than they were able to report (previous problems, bad choice of fields, wild cattle etc.). I certainly won't be restricting my placid animals from being in RoW fields though, although I might think twice to calf down in one of them.
 
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FarmyStu

Member
Location
NE Lincs
I wonder if there is perhaps a bit more to the story than they were able to report (previous problems, bad choice of fields, wild cattle etc.). I certainly won't be restricting my placid animals from being in RoW fields though, although I might think twice to calf down in one of them.
That would be my assumption. But I have no idea of the facts.
 

Farmer_Joe

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
The North
Seems arse about face to me. They should be doubling down on walkers that insist on using footpaths with livestock in them surely ? Farmers should have adequate signs pointing out which fields have livestock in, but apparently, this is " Admitting liability ".
thats exactly it, people using the row should do so with caution, if they see livestock then they should proceed at their own risk, if they dont like it walk around a reservoir or the park where they are no animals.
 

DanielBennett

Member
Trade
Location
Cheshire
There were 25 fatalities on farms last year, and from what I understand, even more this year. These deaths are preventable. And this headline figure masks the number of serious injuries.

We've all taken risks and gotten away with them, and then repeated these risky actions because we've got away with them before.

How are about turning our attitude to HSE on its head, and welcoming their support. Rather than asking yourself, what can you get away with, ask yourself how can HSE help you do things better/safer.

Most farms that I know that take a proactive approach to health and safety also appear to be highly efficiently run farms. Safe working practices go hand in hand with good business.

Lecture over.
 

Steevo

Member
Location
Gloucestershire
How are about turning our attitude to HSE on its head, and welcoming their support. Rather than asking yourself, what can you get away with, ask yourself how can HSE help you do things better/safer.

I agree with you.

As part of that, I think farmers would welcome it if government bodies turned their attitude on its head too.

Understanding why the current situation exists and helping farmers improve would go down better than just the stick approach.

I’ve said it before…farmers actually WANT to do the right thing.
 

slackjawedyokel

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Northumberland
There were 25 fatalities on farms last year, and from what I understand, even more this year. These deaths are preventable. And this headline figure masks the number of serious injuries.

We've all taken risks and gotten away with them, and then repeated these risky actions because we've got away with them before.

How are about turning our attitude to HSE on its head, and welcoming their support. Rather than asking yourself, what can you get away with, ask yourself how can HSE help you do things better/safer.

Most farms that I know that take a proactive approach to health and safety also appear to be highly efficiently run farms. Safe working practices go hand in hand with good business.

Lecture over.
How about a level playing field?

Im perfectly happy to conform to the absolute highest standards of H&S in the world on the understanding that I will not be expected to compete with products produced to any lower standards.

How about our Government standing by farmers by signing up to that?
 

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Expanded and improved Sustainable Farming Incentive offer for farmers published

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Expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive offer from July will give the sector a clear path forward and boost farm business resilience.

From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and The Rt Hon Sir Mark Spencer MP Published21 May 2024

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Full details of the expanded and improved Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer available to farmers from July have been published by the...
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