feature Cattle safety
n By Keith Hatch
Walkers beware of the cows Cattle in a bad moo-ood? You could be in danger so steer clear
With the summer here walkers and holidaymakers will be heading out into the countryside to take in the beautiful scenery, but many forget that the farms are a working environment and need to be aware of the potential dangers.
This February a farmer received a 12 week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was fined £878 with nearly £8,000 in costs after an elderly walker was killed by cattle on his land.
David Tinniswood and his wife were attacked while following a public right of way across Ivescar Farm at Chapel- Le–Dale in Carnforth. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the couple were walking on a footpath that passed through the yard at the farm.
The couple were accompanied by two border terriers and were attacked by cattle that were grazing in the field with calves at foot. The 83-year-old man was trampled and pronounced dead at the scene and his wife sustained serious injuries.
Sadly this case, though rare, isn’t unique and there are concerns that, with the increase in people walking on farmland, there could be more incidents this summer.
Obviously the people most at risk from cattle are farmers and farmworkers – but the HSE said that, between March 2000 and March 2020, 22 members of the public were killed by cattle. Many more are injured.
Given the huge rise in walkers since the pandemic started there are concerns this could increase.
Unite’s John Burbidge sits on the HSE Agricultural Industry Advisory Committee (AIAC) on behalf of the union and said that the health and safety guidance had changed recently, something those working with cattle need to be aware of.
John said, “People who work on the land have a duty of care to their colleagues, and the public who may be
on a footpath, or strayed from it. So ill- tempered cattle should not be on the farm or in the case of dairy bulls, they should be safely housed.
“In this case the farmer should have fenced off the footpath - an electric fence in a farm yard is not safe - or diverted the footpath temporarily.”
“Farm workers are often in contact with the public. It is useful that they understand the law so they can inform any walkers they encounter whilst working as well as reminding them how to act when crossing farmland, particularly when it comes to keeping dogs on leads and the dangers livestock present.”
John was very keen to remind walkers about the importance of keeping dogs on leads, but added that they should be released if the cattle threaten the walkers and their dogs.
Find out more See the HSE guidance: Cattle
and public access in England and Wales
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ ais17ew.htm
36 uniteLANDWORKER Summerr 2022uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2022
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