Around 340,000 people work in the agricultural sector1; a mix of the self-employed, employees, family, casual and gang labour for seasonal activities. However, working in the farming industry can be extremely hazardous. As well as operating potentially dangerous machinery and vehicles or working with chemicals and livestock, farmers and their staff are exposed to the effects of bad weather, noise and dust.
With high numbers and rates of fatal injury, agriculture is one of the riskiest industry sectors, accounting for about one in five fatal injuries to workers. According to the HSE, that’s around 20 times higher than the average five-year annual rate across all industries.1
Between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021, 41 people were killed in agriculture-related activities in the UK, almost double the number of deaths in the previous year.2 Farming is a dangerous profession. It’s essential you have a robust farm health and safety policy and take measures to reduce the risk of injury and illness - this includes having the right farm insurance in place.
In 2020, agricultural transport-related incidents, such as overturning vehicles or being struck by moving vehicles, were responsible for more deaths than any other cause.2 Make sure everyone who needs to knows how to use the equipment. Give refresher training where necessary – particularly with harvesting machinery that’s only used several days of the year.
When it comes to operating machinery and vehicles, there are farm safety processes and procedures that you can adopt to prevent the risk of these accidents:
Look after yourself and your employees by ensuring you’re doing all you can to minimise risks of accidents and injuries.
Think about what you’re doing. 12,000 workers sustain non-fatal injuries at work each year; 22% relate to slips, trips or falls which may have been prevented.2 Don’t take shortcuts; they can result in disastrous outcomes. Fatal or life-changing injuries can be caused by simply avoiding quick fixes.
When you’re securing bales, use a ladder when climbing them and make sure it’s fixed in place first. Keep bale stacks away from roadsides and buildings to reduce fire risks.
More advice can be found in HSE’s Farmwise: Your essential guide to health and safety in agriculture.5
Harvesting is a busy time. Make sure you and your employees look after themselves by:
You’re busy every day of the year. From looking after livestock to tending crops, lambing season to harvest time, there’s always a job to be done. Safety is crucial for everyone working on your farm. Create a farm safety culture first and get everyone involved in creating and maintaining a safe working environment.
Sources:
1. https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/industry/agriculture.pdf
2. https://press.hse.gov.uk/2021/07/19/figures-show-agriculture-remains-the-worst-performing-industrial-sector/
3. https://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/topics/children.htm
4. https://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/topics/machinery/safe-use-1.htm#safe-stop
5. https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg270.pdf