Man injured by manure machine
It has been revealed that a farmer lost part of his foot in a machine and as a result magistrates have fined the farming company £2,000.
Subsequently, the employee may now file a work accident claim. Firefighters spent two hours freeing the man and considered amputating his foot to release him.
The incident happened at Scholebrook Farm in Tong, when the farm worker became trapped in a manure machine, a hearing in Bradford was told.
The director of the business, specialising in poultry and cattle, pleaded guilty to professional negligence and failing to prevent access to dangerous machinery under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
The court was told that the victim, who had worked for the business for ten years, was cleaning the battery hen house when his left foot slipped into the auger, a screw conveyor that takes manure out of the building.
As he attempted to break free, his right foot became caught and he was unable to reach a button to stop the device from rotating, the court heard.
As a result, the employee lost a toe and part of a heel, broke all of his toes and damaged the ankle on his right foot in the accident in January 2009. Another director of the firm heard the machine and stopped it.
The trial
In mitigation for the business, Nathan Buckley said the employee had been supervised while cleaning the hen house when he started at the farm and it was a job he had undertaken without any mishaps three times a week for a decade.
He said the company took health and safety seriously and had acted immediately to prevent a similar accident from occurring. He added: “This is not a case where by the defending company has failed to heed employees concerns.”
Health and Safety Executive inspector Charles Callis told the court: “If nobody had heard him he would have been slowly drawn into the machine and the consequences could have been fatal. He was very lucky he did not loose one or both of his feet.”
No guards were in place and the risk of someone receiving personal injury by becoming trapped had not been considered, Mr Callis noted.
However employees had been warned about the dangers of the machine prior to the accident and within 24 hours it was covered by a guard, he added.
Bench chairman Peter Holmes ordered the company to pay £1,380 in costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
He told the guilty party, who was in court that: “It’s a duty of good management to look at equipment and imagine the worst situation that could happen. You must look at all your equipment and see if there’s any other things that need doing.”
Agricultural figures
Despite less than 1.5% of the working population in the UK employed by the farming industry, the sector is responsible for between 15% and 20% of accident claims and fatalities.
It is estimated that 46 people die each year in agriculture, so in the past decade 464 have been killed. The main causes of death were: Transport deaths - 24%, falling from height – 17%, livestock linked fatalities – 10% and contact with machinery – 8%.Updated on 4/27/2010