The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has
published the details of 188 pesticide incidents reported to its Pesticides
Incidents Appraisal Panel (PIAP) between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998.
Of these incidents, 97 involved alleged ill health and PIAP considered a
probable relationship between the incident and the ill health in a quarter of
these. The number of alleged ill health incidents has increased from 81 last
year.
During the year 1997/98, the courts heard eight cases of
alleged pesticide misuse, compared to 11 the previous year. The average fine per
conviction has risen over the period from £583 to £1,175. HSE inspectors
issued 212 enforcement notices under the Food and Environment Protection Act
1985 or Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 compared to 185 in 1996/97.
The Incident Report highlights a number of pesticide case
studies. A case involving sulphuric acid used on potatoes illustrates that
failure to use any pesticide correctly can be costly. A major contractor (name
withheld by HSE) applied sulphuric acid to desiccate (dry off) potato haulms
before harvesting. The company oversprayed a public footpath, failed to meet the
requirement to display statutory warning notices, and failed to keep unprotected
people out of the treated area for at least 96 hours after spraying as set out
in the specific conditions of approval. HSE prosecuted the contractor who was
fined £3,500 plus £2,169 costs.
In another case, the HSE prosecuted a farmer for discarding
unwashed pesticide containers in the corner of an arable field near a road and
close to houses. His action posed a particular threat to inquisitive children.
He was found guilty and given a conditional discharge but ordered to pay costs
of £745.
Spray drift continues to be a major cause of complaint. In
one incident a member of the public complained that a spray contractor had
applied pesticide to cereals in a field next to his property when the wind speed
was high, resulting in excessive spray drift. He had not notified the
complainant before spraying. No proceedings were taken.
Commenting on the incidents, Enfys Chapman of the Pesticides
Exposure Group of Sufferers (PEGS) is concerned that many pesticide incidents go
un-investigated. She said: "If the HSE officials gathered the information more
quickly, they would produce more significant results."
A recent case illustrates Ms Chapman's point. "In a
pesticide exposure incident in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, six people were made ill
and two dogs died. The GP (doctor) didn't see them for a fortnight and the HSE
in Norwich refused to see them. Two weeks after the incident, the victims
contacted PEGS, but by then it was too late to investigate properly," lamented
Ms Chapman.
Pesticide Incident Reports 1997/98, Field
Operations Directorate Investigations 1 April 1997 - 31 March 1998, Health and
Safety Executive, 1998, 22pp.
[This
article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 42,
December 1998, page 15]