The Farm Safety Partnership (FSP) has responded to the recent decision by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to halt farm safety inspections, fearing the decision will pose significant risks for agricultural workers.
Speaking for the first time as Farm Safety Partnership Chair, NFU Deputy President David Exwood said: “The decision to halt inspections is deeply troubling and we urge the government and HSE to reconsider and continue to work collaboratively with farmers to ensure compliance.”
“The lack of public awareness surrounding this decision raises serious questions about their prioritisation of safety within the farming sector. While the HSE assures us that investigative inspections will continue in response to serious incidents, the lack of all regular inspections, training and events leaves a notable gap in proactive and preventative safety measures that could prevent accidents and save lives.”
“Agriculture has one of the highest rates of fatalities and serious injuries in any workplace and to help bring this number down, as a sector we need to work on changing the culture of farm safety. This decision by HSE completely goes against that goal. We are calling on Defra and the Department for Work and Pensions to recognise the critical safety implications of this decision, urgently review the potential impacts and establish a clear plan to prioritise the wellbeing of the nation’s farmers and growers.”
