With daffodils out and pickers in the fields, farmers and landowners in Cornwall are being reminded that they have a legal responsibility for the health and safety of any temporary or seasonal workers they employ.
Rural insurer Cornish Mutual and south west legal firm Stephens Scown, both based in Truro, want to raise awareness so that agricultural employers understand their duties towards independent contractors and temporary workers under health and safety laws.
The message comes as part of Cornish Mutual’s new ‘Farmsafe’ initiative – the rural insurance firm is teaming up with Stephens Scown to provide specialist advice for the Duchy’s landowners.
Cornish Mutual and Stephens Scown are now urging farmers in Cornwall to keep their health and safety management systems under review with regular audits.
Alan Goddard, managing director of Cornish Mutual, said: “Farmers who take their obligations seriously are not likely to be in breach of the law, but there’s no doubt the farming community should be aware of the potential for a prosecution which stems from serious management failings.
“Agricultural employers are not immune to health and safety laws and when accidents happen they can potentially have devastating consequences including death, prison and the end of a business.”
