Industry news
Worker loses leg after accident
Posted Wed, 27 Oct 2010
A hired farm worker had his leg amputated by paramedics after it was caught in the rotating cutting discs of a harvesting machine.
The 23-year-old man from Whitby, North Yorkshire, who wishes to remain anonymous, was employed by GR Turnbull & Sons to help cut forage maize at Skipsters Hagg Farm in Appleton-le-Moors, near Pickering.
Peter Turnbull, a partner in the family-run farming firm, was trying to clear a blockage in the cutting disc of the harvester by reversing the drive mechanism. However, when this did not work he left his seat to clear it by hand, while the machine remained running.
The hired worker, who was driving a silage trailer in the same field, came to help but got his leg caught in the rotating cutting discs while attempting to clear the blockage. The injury he sustained was so serious that paramedics, including Air Ambulance crew, decided to amputate his leg at the scene on 9 November 2009.
The Health and Safety Executive prosecuted Peter Turnbull, a partner in GR Turnbull & Sons, after investigating the incident.
Peter Turnbull of Grange Farm, Sinnington, near York, was prosecuted for a breach of the Provision and Use of Work Regulations 1998 for allowing someone under his control to enter a danger zone while dangerous parts were still operating. He pleaded guilty to the charge at Scarborough Magistrates Court and was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £1,698 in costs.
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