Farmer fined £2,800 as worker breaks 18 ribs in 10m fall

A partner in a North East farming company faces a £2,800 bill after an incident in which one of his workers fell from a cherry picker while working on a grain dryer, sustaining serious injuries.

The incident at Manor Farm, Barmston, near Driffield in East Yorkshire, occurred in July 2016.

The employee was inspecting a silencer unit attached to the farm’s grain drying facility when he slipped and fell approximately 10m.

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Hull and Holderness magistrates’ court heard that the employee suffered fractures to 18 ribs and both wrists, as well as internal injuries.

His employer, Martin Warkup, was the only partner in the farming company with knowledge of this work, but failed to properly plan and supervise the activity, the court heard.

Mr Warkup pleaded guilty to breaching Health and Safety at Work regulations and was fined £1,600, and ordered to pay £1,216 costs.

After the hearing, Health and Safety Executive inspector Darian Dundas commented: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by planning ahead and putting in place suitable control measures and safe working practices.

“Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of work.”