Farmer sentenced after worker entangled in potato harvester
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Kent Police
A farmer has been sentenced after a worker was injured after becoming entangled in the contra-rotating rollers of a potato harvester.
Folkestone Magistrates’ Court heard that on August 21, 2020, the worker was involved in unblocking the potato harvester at a farm in Kent when he stepped down on to the rollers.
The worker was pulled leg first into the machine and became stuck up to his knee.
This resulted in burns to the leg, a pulled hamstring, torn calf, broken nerves and hairline fractures to the knee and ankle.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the farmer had failed to implement a ‘safe stop procedure’ to isolate power and stop the movement of the rollers before the worker accessed them.
Alan Down of Main Road, Sellindge, Ashford, Kent pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1)(b) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
He was fined £4,992 and ordered to pay costs of £5,805.
