The dangerous practices were spotted and photographed by a concerned passer-by on 14 February 2012 and passed to the Health and Safety Executive – and resulted in the farmer getting a bill for almost £2,000
Aldershot Magistrates’ Court heard the farmer had used the telehandler despite attending a safety day run by HSE less than a year before where a dummy had been dropped from a grain bucket attached to a forklift truck to demonstrate the risks.
The court heard that although neither worker had been injured during the incident, that experience would have made him fully aware of the risks of using unsuitable work platforms, which are well understood in the agriculture industry.
The farmer was fined £330 and ordered to pay £1,757 in costs after admitting a breach of Section 7(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
HSE Inspector Craig Varian said: "Agriculture is one of the top three most dangerous sectors to work in and has a high fatality rate. Falls from height are a significant contributor to that and HSE will continue to prosecute companies and individuals who fall well below the expected standards."
HSE statistics for 2011/12 show there were 33 deaths in farming. There were 241 major injuries per 100,000 employees, just below the waste and recycling industry but above the construction sector.