Farm employee killed by tractor

Carlisle Crown Court heard how, on 26 January 2017, an employee of Wragmire Bank Farm, Cumwhinton, was knocked over by a moving tractor in the farmyard as he stepped out a door from the calf shed.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), found that JS Wood and Son, the partnership that owned the farm, had not taken action to ensure that pedestrians and vehicles could circulate in a safe manner. The spot where the incident took place was on the main thoroughfare of the busy farm and the investigation found farm workers going to or from the calf shed had to cross this route, which was regularly used by farm vehicles.

JS Wood & Son of Cumwhinton, Carlisle pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 17(1) of the Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. The partnership was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,310.80.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Matthew Tinsley said: “All businesses, including farms, should recognise the risk that moving vehicles present to workers and put in place control measures to prevent or reduce those risks.

“These measures can include using railings, segregated vehicle and pedestrian routes, speed limits and warning signs. Taking simple steps such as these can help to prevent tragic accidents such as this”.