Agriculture and Rural
A sector full of hidden hazards, with potential risks and the danger of huge fines and possible custodial sentences. Our expertise and tools help rural businesses navigate risks and stay out of trouble.
If you own a rural business or farm, keeping health and safety in mind is important.
Today’s agricultural businesses and farms are ever evolving and can include partnerships and business structures that bring their own challenges. Combine these alongside the sophisticated and technically complex operations that continue to streamline farming processes by a multitude of regulations and laws, it is no wonder the agricultural sector is a tough one to navigate and thrive.
Keeping health and safety in mind is a major priority, as the agricultural sector remains the highest risk sector to work in with HSE figures continuing to record a significant number of injuries and fatalities happening each year. This is obviously both devastating personally but also for the survival of the business in the aftermath.
With our expert advice and proactive risk management unique tools and services, we assist rural businesses, farmers, landowners and farm related organisations navigate the legal and business risks landscape, proactively preventing problems happening in the first place and working through a crisis should the worst happen.
How we can help
We support rural or agricultural businesses with specialist legal and risk management support, proactively to avoid a problem, or at the point of crisis, including:
- Resolving disputes over ownership and access, including dealing with trespassers
- Writing and reviewing contracts, corporate business structures, and partnership agreements
- HMRC investigations
- Handling farm-based tenancy agreements and disputes including claims of compensation due to termination
- Providing proactive advice on agricultural health and safety law, risk audits and process reviews
- Employment law expertise covering right to work checks for permanent and seasonal workers, capability and performance management, Statutory Sick Pay and absence monitoring, disciplinary issues, grievances, redundancy, settlement agreements, employment policies and procedures
- Regulatory enforcement, including investigations, appeals and inquests from Health and Safety Executive, Environment Agency, SEPA, DEFRA, Food Standards Agency, and criminal investigations headed by the police
- Representation in commercial disputes, particularly around rights over land, possession proceedings, trespass, and nuisance
- Assistance with RIDDOR reporting
- Representation at Coroner’s Court inquests
Some of the services described on the website may not be available in all jurisdictions.
The tools you need to succeed
Our team of experienced health and safety experts is here to guide and advise you on how to reduce risk and can carry out full audit reviews of your health and safety documents, identify potential legal issues, and be a first port of call for all your risk management and legal concerns. Plus, our unique educational tools and services can help prevent issues and help you navigate a crisis should the worst happen.
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Online Knowledge Library
Use rradarstation to access legal resources and downloadable templates that give businesses the knowledge they need to proactively navigate risk.
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Intelligent Legal Assistant
Do you need to access legally verified information, templates or guidance affecting your business when you are out of the office or on site? Our legal assistant, rradargrace, is on hand to help.
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Risk Audit Tool
rradarrisk is a comprehensive risk audit tool that helps you to identify potential hazards and pinpoint any gaps that may expose you to risk – providing clear next step options for managing them
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Incident Reporting Tool
Our digital incident reporting tool makes it easy for you to document, manage and respond to health and safety risks across your business.
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Legal Advisory Service
Sometimes, the human element is what is needed to get to the root of the problem. Our Legal Advice experts can help you pinpoint the issues concerning you.
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Whistleblowing Solution
Our whistleblowing service shields your business from reputational damage and other risks and creates a safe space for employees to raise concerns.
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Emergency Crisis Line
If something happens outside office hours, you can call us for support and guidance to help minimise harm to your business – whatever happens, whenever it happens.
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Legal Services
By your side from everyday advice to full legal representation. Our UK-based solicitors and specialists are dedicated to achieving the best results for you and your business.
Need advice? Speak to our experts
Whether you are looking to strengthen your processes, navigate risk roadblocks or protect your business from harm, our team is armed with the guidance and tools you need to be by your side and make your business unstoppable.