Corporate Manslaughter Legislation – A warning to farmers
The Corporate Manslaughter Legislation will also have an effect on the farming community, especially those larger farming businesses who employ a large number of staff. These farming businesses should be ensuring that they have the correct systems in place to ensure that their employees and the general public are protected from harm.
We are in the ploughing season now in advance of the new planting season. Tractors generate an interesting set of challenges for Risk Management Professionals, as they operate at a number of different speeds with a huge number of different appliances fitted and some farmers appear think they are exempt from most of the Road Traffic Legislation.
As we can see from this article in the Hereford Times, the Police and coroners are taking a particular interest in farming traffic, especially if an collision has occurred. To put the article in context, if the tractor is over 3,500kg in weight then the trailer cannot be more than 2.55m wide and no more than 12m long. There are some machines that the farms use, like the seed drill in the article, which creates some special measures we would need to address.
I recommend that all farm managers ensure that they are operating within all the legal requirements pertinent to their vehicles. if you are not sure what they are I suggest you talk to a professional.
Nigel Grainger
Senior Consultant
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