Enforcement

A specialist group of inspectors exist for inspection of this sector and are set an inspection target and critical issues list on an annual basis.

The current inspection target is 1,350 inspections per year. In 2009 the HSA completed 1,170 Agriculture inspections. During the inspections inspectors issued a total of 130 Improvement Notices and 75 Prohibition Notices.

Going forward the following will need to be achieved:

• Strict enforcement of the Safety Statement/Code of Practice compliance requirement, i.e. Improvement Notice and court action.
• Strict enforcement of machinery guarding requirements, PTOs and fixed plant
• Enforcement in relation to animal handling facilities
• Enforcement in relation to proper maintenance of farmyard facilities, sheds, walls, gates, roofs, access and egress particularly to heights
• Identification of particular risk groups and high-risk activities and focusing of targeted inspection campaigns