HSE Safety Advice

Written by Mark O'Brien

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued two safety notices about farmyard machinery following several fatal accidents over recent months. One incident which caused the death of a 36-year-old worker by the descending boom of a telehandler is the third of its kind in the past seven years.

The HSE is recommending that users do not operate telehandlers with broken or missing side windows and that machines with broken or missing side windows should be removed from service. The HSE also advises that the condition of the cab windows should be inspected daily.

They also issued a notice after investigations into an accident involving a non standard attachment in this case: a chain flail being attached to a brush cutter. The incident caused a fatal injury as a link became detached from the flail and clearly shows the dangers associated with using non standard attachments on machines.

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