The report is the product of an inquiry into preventing serious injury and fatalities while working at height and says the inquiry drew ‘enormous interest from a diverse range of stakeholders’.
The NFU was one such stakeholder and Stuart was able to represent the interests of the farming industry when he gave evidence to the APPG last year.
Falling from height is the most common cause of fatalities in the workplace and the second most common cause of fatalities on farm.
The Farm Safety Partnership, a 40-strong group of agricultural organisations that is aiming to cut the number of farming fatalities by at least 50% by 2023, will launch a working at height safety campaign later this year.
The campaign will focus on delivering four key messages:
- Avoid roof work or work at height maintaining buildings. Do as much as you can from the ground e.g. use extending equipment to clear gutters.
- Avoid doing the work yourself. Use a professional contractor with the knowledge, skills equipment and experience to safely work at height on buildings.
- On very rare occasions where roof work, or building maintenance at height cannot be avoided make sure the work is planned and carried out by people with the right training and equipment. For example trained and experienced people using a mobile elevating work platform or scaffold.
- Don’t be tempted to use the wrong equipment. Being lifted on the forks or bucket of a telehandler is illegal.
The Health and Safety Executive has published more detailed guidance here on how to work at height safely.
Further information is also available from NFU CallFirst on 0370 845 8458.
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