Agriculture remains a dangerous industry

TWO people were killed in the agriculture sector in 2021/222 – 16 fewer than last year.

This drop in fatalities is to be welcomed. But, while it is encouraging news, I would urge those who work in the industry not to become complacent.

Fatal injuries were most commonly caused by people being struck by moving vehicles.

This was followed by being struck by an object, contact with machinery, falls from height and animal-inflicted deaths.

The latest figures suggest considerable progress in agricultural risk management since the early 1980s, when there were around double the number of fatal injuries.

This year’s total number of fatalities, which includes three members of the public, is the second lowest number of deaths recorded in the last five years.

Agriculture, however, remains the riskiest industry to work in, with fatal injuries around 18 times higher than the ‘all industry rate’.

In the South East, a 57-year-old self-employed farmer was killed when he fell through the skylight of a shed roof.

In the other incident, a 93-yearold member of the public in a mobility scooter was struck by a telehandler while using a farm track. The lady suffered a fractured leg and later died.

Figures for the last five years reveal that more self-employed workers are killed than employed workers, suggesting that while employers may be taking care to implement health and safety measures, and educate and train their staff, they are not giving their own personal safety enough attention. Death and injury can have a devastating effect on families, as well as destroying businesses, yet risk-taking seems to be an underlying problem in the industry.

Some fatalities can be attributed to freak accidents, but others could be avoided by adopting a more rigorous approach to safety.

Risk assessments should be thorough, all appropriate training should be undertaken, and safety policies should be implemented.

Alex Cormack Lycetts Risk Management Services