§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many fatal accidents on the farms of the United Kingdom are due to accidents involving tractors and other mechanised farming vehicles for the past three years; and what consideration has been given to the advisability of making the fitting of safety-cabs and the attachment of roll-bars compulsory, in view of the increased safety and stability of such fittings.
§ Mr. MayhewDuring the period 1 January 1977 to 31 December 1979 there were 93 fatal accidents in agriculture in
460WThe South Devon and Cornwall Institute for the Blind.
Wolverhampton and Dudley Industries for the Blind and Disabled.
The Hartlpool Workshop for the Blind.
The Linkage Community Trust.
Employment Rehabilitation
Grants towards the capital and running costs of employment.
Rehabilitation centres were made by the MSC in 1979/80 to the following voluntary organisations:
Great Britain involving mechanised farming vehicles. Of these, 73 involved tractors.
The Agriculture (Tractor Cabs) Regulations 1974 require, inter alia, that
(1) all new wheeled tractors weighing 11 cwt or more sold or let on hire into agriculture in Great Britain since 1 September 1970 should be fitted with an approved safety cab or frame; and
(2) since 1 September 1977 all such tractors driven by agricultural employees should be similarly fitted.
The function of a safety cab or frame is to protect the driver from being crushed in the event of an overturn. The Health and Safety Executive is currently considering an extension of the protective measures in (2) to the self-employed.
Two of the non-tractor fatalities resulted from the vehicle overturning. The HSE has no plans concerning the fitting of safety cabs or frames to mechanised farm vehicles other than wheeled tractors.