Case studies
The case studies in this section are all real incidents with real and sometimes fatal consequences for the people involved. The case studies concentrate on some of the key themes being targeted by HSE.
It is important that we all learn from accidents and the misfortune of those involved - so that other farmers, workers and their families can avoid the loss of a loved one and the pain and financial costs of an accident on their own farm.
The case studies in this section include the fines and costs awarded where there was a prosecution. The real cost of the accidents is much higher than this; the pain and suffering, the time off work, damaged equipment, replacement staff costs, lost produce, increased insurance premiums and offenders' own legal costs far exceed this figure. Taking precautions to avoid it happening to you makes legal, moral and financial sense.
Case studies are listed under the following categories.
- Children
- Contact with machinery
- Electricity, overhead power lines
- Falls from height
- Livestock handling
- Manual handling
- Poultry
- Transport
- Treework
Example case studies
- Safety through training and maintenance - Lorry driver lost both legs when an overloaded and unmaintained telescopic handler fell forward onto him.
- Working on fragile roofs - Farm worker fell through a fragile roof while cleaning valley gutters. No precautions had been taken to prevent the fall.
- Children working unsupervised - A 14 year old child suffered serious head injuries when struck by the forks of a materials handler
- Unguarded Power Take Off shafts- A 13 year old boy became entangled on an unguarded PTO shaft.
- Tipper lorry contacts over head power lines at farm - he raised body of a tipper lorry contacted an OHPL whilst delivering gravel to a farm.
- Felling trees - A member of the public was seriously injured when hit by a falling tree