Published: Monday, 8th June, 2009 4:15pm

Safety warning following quad bike death

A BORDERS farm has been fined following the death of one of its workers in a quad bike smash.

Thirty-four-year-old Grant Shannon suffered fatal head injuries when he lost control of the all terrain vehicle and crashed into a tree while working at Kelloe Mains Farm, near Duns two years ago. He was not wearing a helmet.

The owners of Kelloe Mains Farm, the partnership known as R & J McDonald, were fined £6,650 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on Friday after pleading guilty to charges under Section 2(1) and Section 33 (1) (a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for 'failure to provide and maintain plant (ATV) that was, so far as reasonably practicable, safe'.

Mr Shannon had taken up employment on the farm as a dairy worker just three days before he died.

The accident happened when he was told to use an ATV to assist another employee in moving cattle from one part of a field to another. The deceased had never driven an ATV before and had not received any formal training on how to do so.

Mr Shannon was not wearing head protection and the quad bike was later found to have a number of defects, the most serious being incorrect tyre pressure which is critical for the safe operation of ATVs. Four worn tyres and ineffective rear brakes were also discovered.

Now the Health and Safety Executive, which is responsible for protecting people against risks to health or safety arising out of work activities, has warned other farmers of the dangers.

Inspector Gillian McLean said: 'Mr Shannon"s death could easily have been prevented. Prior to using an ATV the user must have received adequate, formal training and must ensure that the vehicle is in good mechanical condition (pre-ride checks by the operator can ensure that this is the case). The user should also wear a helmet.

'Sadly, farming is a dangerous business, and the numbers of deaths and injuries to farmers, workers and members of the public is unacceptable. In 2007-08, nine agricultural workers in Scotland lost their life at work and 2,364 were seriously injured.

'Less than 1.5% of the working population is employed in agriculture yet the sector is responsible for between 15 per cent and 20 per cent of fatalities to workers in Great Britain each year.'