News Safety plea after 41 people killed in farm accidents
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shocking rise in farm accidents has seen 41 people killed while working in agriculture during the past year. Being struck by a moving or overturned vehicle was the most common cause of death during the 12 months ending 31 March 2021, according to figures published last month by the Health and Safety Executive. It means agriculture continues to have the worst fatality rate among all main UK industry sectors. Farming employs less than 1% of the population but has an annual death rate some 20 times higher than the average nonfarming occupation. More than half of all workers killed on farms last year were aged 60 years or older. But people much younger also lost their lives. The youngest person killed was a two-year-old child, said the HSE. HSE chief executive Sarah Albon said: “While the working world in which we now live has created new health challenges for workers and for those who have a duty towards them, safety must also remain a priority.” She added: “Every loss of life is a tragedy. We are committed to ensuring that workplaces are as safe as they can be – and that employers are held to account and take their obligations seriously.” The Farm Safety Partnership, which represents more than 30 organisations working across agriculture, said effective risk management
and preventative measures could go a long way to reducing farm accidents. NFU deputy president and partnership chairman Stuart Roberts said: “As an industry we are always learning from each other and we need to follow that learning mentality when it comes to health and safety.”
Action needed now Mr Roberts said it was important for farmers to share their own experiences, ideas and examples of tried and tested safety measures. Doing so could help find solutions to a problem which wouldn’t go away on its own, he added. On his own Hertfordshire farm, Mr
Roberts said he was providing high visibility clothing to all staff and ensuring all workers were able to take sufficient rest breaks – including during harvest – to avoid fatigue. He added: “I have also found it really useful to look at safety from a business perspective. We are the most valuable asset to our businesses, so our safety should be the priority. “It’s time to turn the tide on farming’s poor safety record – with words, with actions and with change. So let’s use this week as an opportunity to inspire and learn from each other, to protect our businesses and, ultimately, to protect ourselves.” For more on farm safety, see pages 60-64
Moving or overturned vehicles were among the biggest causes of accidents [Photo: Tim Scrivener]
‘Come home safe’ should be farming message The farming industry has a woeful safety record, which stubbornly shows little sign of improvement, says CLA deputy president Mark Tufnell. Writing at the start of last month’s annual Farm Safety Week (19-23 July), Mr Tufnell said the industry faced sobering statistics every year. Agriculture had the worst fatal injury rate of the main industrial sectors, he added. “There is no getting away from the fact that farming can be dangerous. The
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most common causes of death include falling from a height, struck by moving vehicle, trapped by something collapsing/ overturning and contact with moving machinery.” Farmers were often short on time, rushing from one job to the next, which could lead to shortcuts or the neglect of safe practices, said Mr Tufnell. Some farmers also took a perverse pride in the number of overtime hours they worked.
“We need to change the industry attitude to safety and make sure it is built into the mind-set of every farmer, who continually assess and evaluate the risks they and others are exposed to as they go about their day. “Farm safety is not just important on one week of the year but should be central to everything on every day of the year. ‘Come home safe’ should be the message all farmers give themselves as they leave the breakfast table.”
