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Health and safety concerns in the sectors
Agriculture and horticulture have one of the worst accident and occupational ill health records of any major employment sector. Over the last ten years there has been on average nearly one death a week, plus many more cases of individuals suffering injuries or ill health as a result of bad working practice. Casualties have included agricultural and horticultural workers as well as members of the public and even children.
The cost to the sectors in terms of legal claims, disruption to work, and higher insurance premiums - not to mention the resulting distress - is considerable. The legal obligations placed on employers by the Health and Safety at Work Act and allied legislation and regulations, can lead to their prosecution. Addressing health and safety issues is fundamental to the well being of the individual, to the business and to each sector as a whole.
This new suite of Certificates in Health and Safety, designed specifically for farmers and growers, has been developed to help address these issues and make the sector a safer environment in which to live and work. The initiative has the full backing of the HSE, who have identified education, skills and competences in agriculture and horticulture as a priority area for improvement.
The qualifications, (including the Level 3 Certificate in Controlling Risks to Health and Safety in Agriculture/Horticulture and the Level 4 Certificate in Managing Health and Safety in Agriculture/ Horticulture) have been developed in partnership with the HSE, the TGWU and the NFU.
They have further benefited from assistance and guidance from the Lantra Sector Skills Council (Lantra SSC), the Employment National Training Organisation (ENTO), the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and awarding bodies for qualifications in the land-based sector.