The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a report which confirms that the agriculture sector has the worst rate of fatal injuries of all the major industry sectors. The Fatal Injuries in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing in Great Britain 2020/21 report identifies the most common causes of fatal injuries as:
- being struck by moving vehicles,
- killed by an animal,
- struck by an object,
- falling from height, and
- contact with moving machinery
Provisional figures for the period April 2020 to March 2021 indicate that 41 people were killed in agricultural activities compared with 23 the previous year. Overturning vehicles or being hit by vehicles was the most common cause of fatal accidents. An older workforce has also resulted in over half of the workers killed being aged 60 or older. When comparing older and younger age groups, the fatal injury rate is more than four times higher for the 65s and over, compared to the 16-24 age group. The youngest person killed was a two-year-old child who died after being overcome by slurry fumes.
Acting head of agriculture at HSE Adrian Hodkinson said:
“Agriculture is a vital part of our economy, and everyone involved is rightly proud of the quality and standard of the food produced. It is not acceptable that agriculture continues to fail to manage risk in the workplace. We need everyone to play their part to improve their behaviour, do things the right way and ‘call out’ poor practices whenever they are seen.
Agriculture will continue to be a priority sector for HSE, which will be achieved through the delivery of HSE’s sector plan for tackling the high rates of injury and ill health. It is disappointing to be highlighting another high annual fatality rate in the industry when the causes are well known and the precautions to avoid injury are straightforward.
There are simple safety measures people should follow to reduce injury like remembering to put on handbrakes, fasten lap belts in cabs, make sure anyone operating a quad bike wears a helmet and receives sufficient training, don’t put cows and calves in fields with public footpaths; and make sure to switch off the power to vehicles or machinery before attempting to carry out repairs.”
Those that work in the agriculture sector often work in extreme weather at remote locations using potentially dangerous machinery. Such conditions increase the risk of accidents and steps need to be taken to improve safety for all workers in the sector.
Vehicles
When using vehicles workers should ensure that they are used on stable ground. Before embarking on a task, you should plan how you are going to do the task. In the planning it is important to not just think about how you are going to do the task but also think about what could go wrong and what you need to do if things do go wrong. If the task requires more than one person, then make arrangements for that rather than attempting a task on your own. Removing keys from machinery when you get out of the cab is good practice and a habit that workers should adopt. The HSE has a number of guidance documents providing free advice on the safe use of tractors, All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) and other vehicles on the farm.
Animals
Even farm workers who have worked with animals all their lives can be caught out by an unpredictable reaction from stock, so it is important to ensure that you have an appropriate means of reaching safety if this occurs. Barriers and safe refuges should be available for workers in the event that an animal presents a risk. The HSE’s guidance, Handling and Housing Cattle (AIS35) provides further advice on safety measures that should be adopted.
Falling objects & Working at Height
Repairing roofs on agricultural buildings is a common task undertaken by farm workers but without proper planning such tasks can often end in a fatality or serious injury. Roof panels are often fragile and unable to take a person’s weight. Repairs are often undertaken in poor weather conditions with inadequate equipment. Ladders will often not be appropriate for roof repairs and this needs to be considered when planning to undertake and roof repairs.
Insecure loads falling from vehicles present another hazard to farm workers. When moving equipment or supplies they should be secured to the vehicle or trailer even if they are only being moved a short distance.
Machinery
Machinery used on the farm can be dangerous if not used correctly. Far workers should have received training on how to use the machinery and that training should include what to do when it malfunctions. Clear procedures should be in place to deal with blockages and other malfunctions. The equipment must be isolated before attempts are made to free any blockages or undertake repairs. Discharging any power still present in the machinery may also need to be considered before embarking on a repair. Further guidance is available in the HSE’s publication Working Safely With Agricultural Machinery (INDG241).
Future
With the workforce in the sector aging there has never been a more important time to attract younger workers into agriculture. However, with such a poor safety record this could be a factor which discourages people from embarking on a farming career. Whilst the shocking statistics should be ample reason for everyone involved in the sector to make changes and improve health and safety performance, the risk of prosecution will also become much more likely in future. The HSE will devote more resources to the agricultural sector on the back of this report and enforcement action will undoubtedly rise as a result.
If you require advice for your farm, please contact either Simon Catterall – scatterall@jacksons-law.com or Mark Stouph – mstouph@jacksons-law.com or phone 01642 356500/0191 2322574.
Mark Stouph, Health & Safety Consultant.
