The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a farmer after a motorcyclist was seriously injured when the arms of a trailer attached to a crop spraying machine collided with him as he was driving past the farm.

In July 2008, farmer Peter Wilkinson from Suttons Farm near Formby on Merseyside was spraying crops in a field next to the road, when he turned the tractor pulling the crop spraying trailer without raising the trailer’s boom arms. One of the boom’s arms crossed the boundary of the field and struck motorcyclist Allan Smith, who was travelling along the B5195 Broad Lane in Great Altcar.

Mr Smith sustained serious injuries to his left arm and he has been unable to return to work or ride a motorbike since the incident. His passenger, Andrew Friar, sustained less serious injuries involving stitches to his knee.

On Thursday, 9 October, 2009 at North Sefton Magistrates’ Court in Southport, Peter Wilkinson pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to make sure the public was not put at risk while he carried out his work. He was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,000.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Phil Redman said that, by failing to make sure the arms of the trailer were raised before he turned his tractor, Peter Wilkinson had put the lives of those passing the field ‘at risk’.

‘This was a serious incident that could have easily been prevented,‘ Mr Redman said. ‘Allan Smith clearly wouldn’t have expected the arms of the sprayer to swing over the road when he rode along it – and both he and his passenger were injured as a result. Mr Smith’s injuries were particularly severe and he will never fully recover.

‘Members of the public often use roads or footpaths on or near to farms, and it’s important they can do so safely,’ Mr Redman added.

‘It’s vital that farmers remember that other people may be nearby when they carry out their work, so that lives are not put at risk in the future.’

© 5r1 Limited 2009