A SAFETY blitz on farms in Suffolk uncovered a raft of lapses in procedures which could have put workers at risk.Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive visited 171 farms in Suffolk during a week-long crackdown.

A SAFETY blitz on farms in Suffolk uncovered a raft of lapses in procedures which could have put workers at risk.

Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive visited 171 farms in Suffolk during a week-long crackdown.

They issued 78 improvement notices and 30 prohibition notices to farmers failing to meet legal standards.

The inspectors visited the farms throughout November to look at health and safety standards and to offer advice on how owners should meet their safety responsibilities.

Richard Bulmer, HM Principal Inspector of Health and Safety for the initiative, said: "People working in agriculture continue to be among those most likely to come to harm because of their work.

"In most cases the causes are easily preventable and the solutions simple and inexpensive to implement.

"Unfortunately it is also true that there continues to be a significant number of farmers who see training as an unnecessary burden and who need to make better use of local training groups."

The farm visits were part of a range of initiatives being conducted by the Health and Safety Executive aimed at reducing the toll of deaths, serious injury and ill health on farms.

Inspectors gave farmers advice on how to control risks arising from farm transport, working at height, child safety, manual handling and occupational asthma.

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