Work accident news
10/01/2012

Three face fines over runaway farm vehicle

Three Cornish farmers have been prosecuted in the wake of a farm vehicle accident which saw one man severely injured.

The 55-year-old was using a tractor to spread manure on a field in Helston, Cornwall, in September 2010.

As he got out to open a gate the vehicle, which had a faulty handbrake, rolled forward and ran over him.

The farm worker suffered multiple injuries including seven broken ribs, crush injuries to his back and permanent damage to his eye socket, the Court was told. He has been unable to work since then.

A workplace accident investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the tractor's handbrake had failed because it had not been properly maintained.

An HSE spokesman said the victim's life had ‘changed significantly' as a result of the accident at work.

"Farmers must ensure equipment used on their farms is properly maintained and serviced to avoid future incidents like this," he said after the hearing.

The three farmers involved admitted their failure to ensure employee safety by breeching work equipment regulations.

The farm vehicle accident cost them a total of £7,500 in fines and £9,000 in prosecution costs.