Farmers need to recognise importance of health and safety

Farmers need to ensure their health and safety practices are up to date following the introduction of the Corporate Manslaughter Act earlier this week, one expert has warned.

The new act means greater culpability for employers if a fatality occurs in the workplace and prosecutions to be handled by the police rather than the Health and Safety Executive.

Firms could be fined up to ten per cent of their annual turnover if a death takes place due to failings on the part of the management

Speaking to fwi.co.uk, Tim Insurance, a spokesman for insurance experts NFU Mutual, said that if health and safety has not been a top priority for farmers, then "it should be now".

"The act makes it easier for prosecutions, not just for people at the top of the company but now people at other levels of the organisation. And the act can affect all areas of agricultural business," he told the news provider.

Research from the HSE showed that agriculture accounts for 16 per cent of fatal injuries to workers.

Find out more about Corporate Manslaughter