Agricultural machinery safety: Regulating the supply chain

Occupational health and safety regulation has been far less successful in addressing machinery safety in the agricultural sector than it has been elsewhere. This article identifies the major deficiencies of the existing legislation and standards, with a particular focus on the challenge of regulating "upstream" duty holders. It summarises the current legal regime and the need for national uniformity, examines the responsibilities of manufacturers, importers, designers and suppliers, identifies serious problems in the regulatory status quo, and suggests how they might be overcome.