Dairy farm fined £60,000 after worker falls through roof
© Richard Hayward/Alamy Stock Photo A dairy farm in Bodmin, Cornwall has been fined more than £60,000 after an 18-year-old farmworker fell through a barn roof, landing on the concrete floor below.
Mike Rossiter was clearing gutters when the roof gave way, causing him to plunge more than 20 feet.
See also: HSE launches safety campaign to reduce farm kit deaths
He suffered a ruptured liver and spleen and was airlifted to hospital. He also sustained several fractures which required surgery.
Mr Rossiter said: “I was in hospital for two-and-a-half weeks. I have been left with permanent damage in my arm and no longer have full movement, and I’m unable to lift and carry heavy things.”
An investigation carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that his employer, CP Button Ltd, had failed to assess risks, including the risk of falls.
Wider failings were also found in relation to the instruction, training and supervision of employees, and the employer subsequently pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act.
HSE inspector James Hole said: “This was a wholly avoidable incident which resulted in life-changing injuries.
“Roughly half the deaths and serious injuries caused by falls in agriculture involve work on fragile roofs.
“Any work on roofs should be adequately planned and suitable protection should be provided, which will normally include a combination of coverings, guard rails, safety nets and safety harnesses.”
HSE podcast
Advice on the small changes farmers can make to protect themselves and their workers from being injured or killed by moving vehicles is featured in a new Health and Safety Executive (HSE) podcast.
Incidents involving moving vehicles are the primary cause of deaths in agriculture – they were responsible for 30% of all fatalities in the past five years – and many more people have been injured.
In the new podcast, Welsh farmer and farm safety expert Brian Rees and HSE’s agriculture sector lead Adrian Hodkinson offer advice on how farms can be made safer, specifically referencing moving vehicles.
HSE’s head of agriculture policy, Sue Thompson, said the aim was to show farmers that safety on a farm didn’t need to be difficult or expensive.
“Farmers and farm workers should take a moment to think about what would happen to their families and their farms if they were seriously injured and unable to work,” she said.
You can listen to the podcast on the Work Right website.