Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Agriculture
Figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in its annual report, 'Fatal injuries in farming, forestry and horticulture 2005/06' show that 45 people were killed as a result of farming and other agriculture-related activities in 2005/06.
This compares with 47 in the previous year (2004/05) and an average of 49 over the previous 10 years.
Of the 45 people killed, 23 were farmers or self-employed workers, 13 were employees and 9 were members of the public, of whom 6 were children. .
The main causes of accidents were:
Combining the fatal injury statistics for employees (6) and self-employed (12) gives a fatal incidence rate of 8.8 per 100,000 workers a reduction for the Sector of 15% on the previous year’s figure of 10.4 per 100,000, but still the highest incidence rate of any major industrial Sector in the UK in 2005/06.
Commenting on the figures Dr Roger Nourish, Head of HSE’s Agriculture and Food Sector said, “Whilst the overall rate for workers is heading in the right direction this year it is significant that the incidence rates for agriculture still remain so high relative to the other industrial sectors - and tragic that so many children have lost their lives during 2005/06.”
Last year the number of fatal accidents involving the self-employed was nearly twice that of employees. The majority of the self–employed killed were family farmers undertaking traditional agricultural activities. We continue to focus our attention on the particularly high fatal incidence rate amongst this part of the industry.
The statistics reveal that the pattern of accident causation remains similar to that in previous years. Once again transport related incidents were the major cause of death in the industry claiming 16 lives (36%); F alls from a height resulted in 6 deaths (13%); Injury from an animal resulted in 6 deaths (13%); Machinery accounted for 5 deaths (11%); and Struck by moving, falling or flying objects a further 4 deaths (9%). Almost all of these tragic deaths could have been avoided, as the risks and precautions are well known.
The level of fatal accidents to children should be of particular concern to everyone in the industry. Tragically 6 children were killed last year. This is the highest recorded number of child deaths in the last eight years and is 4 higher than the average over the past five years.
This years figures underline that older workers too are particularly vulnerable if they fail to recognise or take action on known risks - owing to their reduced capacity to withstand and survive a serious injury.
Presenting the figures in the context of longer-term performance trends, Dr Nourish said “our analysis shows a continuing overall downward trend in fatal incidence rates in the employed sector and whilst this year has also seen some improvement amongst the self employed, much more needs to be done to drive the numbers down.
The cost to farmers and farm workers of farm accidents in 2005/06 was estimated at £290 million. These losses could have been avoided if sensible health and safety measures had been taken.”
Dr Roger Nourish, continued, “Sensible health and safety is about managing risk not eliminating all risks, however minor. Our research studies and accident Investigations clearly point to the fact that in this industry in particular unwise risk-taking remains the underlying problem. A fundamental culture change is needed.”
The ‘Fatal injuries in farming, forestry and horticulture 2005/06’ [600kb]
report is only available in an electronic format.
HSE’s performance targets are set by government. HSE will measure its overall progress over the next three years against its all-industry targets which are::
HSE ’s priorities and approach to agriculture are to:
Farming is an inherently hazardous profession involving work with potentially dangerous machinery, workplace transport, chemicals, livestock, working at heights or near pits and silos, and the effects of environmental factors such as bad weather, noise and dust. Additional factors include the increasing industrialisation of farming through the use of larger, more complex machinery, increased land and capital intensiveness, concentrated livestock production, a declining workforce and demographic changes in the working population.
Over the past few years HSE’s emphasis has changed from traditional inspection to other approaches. These include Safety and Health Awareness Days (SHADs); farm group inspections; targeted concentrated inspection campaigns; the development and introduction of an electronic self-assessment software package; the development and promotion of a suite of new land based Vocational Qualifications at NVQ levels 2,3 & 4 in health and safety and continued and increased use of the Internet (such as HSE’s Agriculture e-bulletin, a new feature taking the form of free regular email of news and information, keeping the industry informed of the latest industry issues) to disseminate key messages and advice and guidance on health and safety in agriculture.
HSE has found that farmers welcome and respond well to more advice and less red tape. But driving down the number of fatal accidents requires everyone in the industry to heed the advice and make safety a higher priority. Dr Nourish said: "Managers and workers alike need to think seriously about the cost and consequences of a fatal or major injury or of disabling ill health and the potentially traumatic effects on their businesses, families and livelihoods. Health and safety is integral to good farm business management. At HSE we are continually seeking ways to help change the culture of risk-taking. Securing this change is part of developing a modern, sustainable and productive agricultural industry in the UK.
What is now needed is for those in the industry to avail themselves to the wide range of tools, advice and guidance, which HSE has developed with the help of stakeholders to promote risk awareness, risk assessment and pragmatic risk control.
HSE is now working with the insurance industry and others to identify and develop incentives for uptake. In effect together with our stakeholders, HSE has taken the horse to water. It now needs to drink of it’s own volition - that is to assess and manage risk and to take practical action back at the farm, field, forest or other workplace. Only then will the distressing, needless and historic levels of death, injury and ill-health in this industry be abated.”