Ashley Holden
17 Apr 2020 · Coroner Paul Smith · Lincolnshire
A similar concern from this report was raised again 1 time later. See the linked reports.
The coroner's concerns
1. falling bales
“Fatalities from falling bales are an acknowledged risk within agriculture with a number of fatalities annually”
2. inconsistent guidance
“There are two specific guidance documents available to the public which are relevant to this issue”
3. lack of definitive guidance
“There is no definitive guidance provided to the industry in relation to the stacking or unstacking of bales, or in relation to the loading and strapping of loaded trailers”
4. unsafe practices
“The absence of specific guidance on this issue creates a risk of the development of unapproved and potentially unsafe individual practices, with the consequential risk of future deaths”
5. need for definitive guidance
“The provision of definitive guidance would be welcomed by those working within agriculture”
Linked reports
Closely relatedConfidence 0.85 · high
This report
“There is no definitive guidance provided to the industry in relation to the stacking or unstacking of bales, or in relation to the loading and strapping of loaded trailers”
Later report
“It became apparent that there were no clear images in the guidance or support materials produced by HSE to assist drivers who load and unload bales.”
Responses
2020-0096-Response-from-Department-for-Transport_Redacted.pdf ↗· Department for Transport
2020-0096-Response-from-Health-Safety-England_Redacted-1.pdf ↗· Health and Safety Executive
Stated action
“We continue to monitor and adapt our guidance in light of incidents and modern farming practices. For example, INDG125(rev3) was revised in 2012 to provide updated guidance to the industry on safe working practices, including the safe loading and unloading of bales.”