Hansard

Agricultural Tractors (Accidents)

Volume 929: debated on Wednesday 6 April 1977

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Mr. Hicks

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state for each year since 1970 the number of accidents involving either fatal or serious injuries resulting from the mechanical failure of agricultural tractors.

Mr. John Grant

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 29th March 1977; Vol. 929, c. 98], circulated the following information:I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the number of fatal accidents in agriculture in each year since 1970 which the agricultural inspectorate considered might have resulted from mechanical failure of agricultural tractors is as follows:

1970………—
1971………1
1972………—
1973………—
1974………1
1975………—
1976………—

In addition, there were fatal accidents where there was evidence of unsatisfactory maintenance which led to mechanical failure, as follows:

1970………3
1971………2
1972………—
1973………1
1974………2
1975………—
1976………1
The chairman also informed me that there is no classification of agricultural non-fatal accidents by degree of seriousness. Of the 43,775 non-fatal accidents to workers in agriculture reported to DHSS during 1970–76, 17,208 were investigated by agricultural safety inspectors. Of those involving serious injury

the following numbers might have resulted from mechanical failure of agricultural tractors:

1970………2
1971………—
1972………2
1973………—
1974………1
1975………1
1976………2

In addition, among the serious non-fatal accidents investigated there was evidence of unsatisfactory maintenance which led to mechanical failure, as follows:

1970………2
1971………1
1972………3
1973………6
1974………—
1975………1
1976………—