In the agriculture sector, a proper Thorough Examination of equipment can literally be the difference between life and death. You might think that sounds dramatic, but with just a few changes to the way you approach inspections, the risk of machinery failure and subsequent accidents can be significantly reduced.

The numbers don’t lie

Moving vehicles are responsible for the greatest number of deaths in British farming. And over the last 5 years alone, these incidents have accounted for 30% of all fatal injuries in the sector.

As advised by the HSE, 50% of these deaths involving moving vehicles could be prevented if elements such as brakes and steering were maintained – a crucial aspect to a Thorough Examination which covers both LOLER and PUWER .

Thorough Examinations are vital across all industries, but especially in agriculture, which has the highest number of fatal and serious injuries across all sectors in Great Britain – 21 times higher than the average.

What more can you do?

While those statistics are quite damning, there are steps employers can take to dramatically reduce the number of fatal and serious incidents in the agriculture industry.

Simply put, machinery owners can minimise the risk of mechanical failure by ensuring that equipment is in good working order and consistently maintained. That may sound obvious, but we frequently find that having regular Thorough Examinations is a factor that is overlooked. Inspections must be completed at least once a year, but in exceptional circumstances it may be more frequent.

Aside from getting regular inspections, it’s vital that your Thorough Examination is CFTS accredited. Too many providers fail to check all components required for an inspection to be labelled as truly thorough.

A CFTS-accredited engineer is guaranteed to provide an in-depth examination using documentation that details all specific criteria required, from lifting equipment to the brakes and tyres.

Keeping on the right side of the law

The motivation to save lives should be enough to convince most people. However, if you are still in doubt about the importance of Thorough Examinations in agriculture, then consider the threat of prosecution and conviction after an incident.

Employers now face record fines if they are convicted following a health and safety prosecution, with the HSE obtaining a conviction rate of 94% on at least one of the offenses charged. In addition, the average fine has now increased by 35% up to £145,000 with multiple cases resulting in a fine of over £1 million. This is more than enough to put many companies out of business and leave employees jobless, simply because a Thorough Examination wasn’t conducted on time, or thoroughly enough.

With the sobering number of fatalities in the agriculture sector, and the risk of conviction, the incentive for employers to ensure they are fully compliant has never been higher.

For the assurance that you are looking after your employees and your business, get your Thorough Examination from a CFTS-accredited Competent Person.

The CFTS mark is your guarantee that your truck will be examined carefully, and that key components such as brakes and steering will be checked along with the lifting mechanisms.

Find your local Competent Person here - CFTS Thorough Examination