Farm worker fined for running over his employer

Published: HSE, February 2010

A farm worker in Derbyshire has been fined after he reversed a tractor over his 73-year old employer, leaving him dead.

The employee was driving at speed when the incident happened on 25 April 2007. He pleaded guilty to breaching Section 7 (a) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The employee was fined £450.00 and ordered to pay costs of £1000.00 at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court over the incident at a farm in Ashbourne.

The court heard that the employee had returned to the farm at the end of the day to park the tractor, which was attached to a muck spreader. He was reversing through the farmyard in the vehicle with restricted visibility when he ran over his employer, who later died of his injuries.

He had received a number of previous warnings about driving at speed. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation also revealed a four and a half metre skid mark on the ground where he had tried to stop the vehicle after hitting his employer.

HSE inspector Dr Samantha Farrar said:

"This was a tragic case where the actions of one farm worker ultimately left his employer dead.

"He had already been warned about driving the tractor at speed around the farm, but sadly did not take this advice on board.

"I cannot stress enough the importance of watching out for other people and keeping speed down when driving tractors, especially when visibility is restricted."

Notes to editors

• HSE is Britain's national regulator for workplace safety and health. It aims to reduce injuries and illness in the workplace.
• Section 7 (a) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employee while at work to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work".
• Advice on health and safety on farms can be found on the HSE website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/

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