Is Working on the Farm the UK’s Most Dangerous Job?

The latest Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics have confirmed that the Agricultural sector is one of the most dangerous to work in.

According to the HSE website, “Although, the number of fatal injuries to workers in the agricultural sector has fallen by around half since the early 1980s, the rate of fatalities, which is based on the number of people at work in the sector, has remained high. The worker fatal injury rate is 21 times higher than the average five-year annual rate across all industries.”

The table below shows the causes of fatalities over the past 5 years:

In terms of non-fatal work-related injuries, the agricultural sector has the highest rate of any industry. 4.1% of workers sustained a reported injury (4,100 reported injuries per 100,000 workers), compared to an all-industry average of 1.1% (1,110 per 100,000).

Injuries are not the end of the story. The agricultural sector also had the second highest rate of self-reported work related illness of all industries. Nearly half (46%) were musculoskeletal disorders, such as sprains or ligament damage.  The balance primarily related to farmer’s lung (caused by breathing in dusts found in hay and mould spores), occupational asthma, skin disease and occupational cancer (for instance skin cancer due to sun exposure).

Whilst the rate of accidents and illnesses seems to be decreasing, albeit by diminishing degrees, there are still some basic precautions that can be taken in farm management that could help minimise the risks. Click on the image below for a short NFU Mutual video offering some simple guidance.

Some agricultural injuries could not have been easily prevented and are simply tragic accidents. However, many could have been prevented if not for the negligence of another person or entity. Examples of negligence include (but are not limited to):

• Inadequate training in the use of machinery and equipment and safe conduct in the agricultural environment.
• Faulty or broken equipment provided by an employer.
• Inadequate warnings of dangers provided by agricultural equipment suppliers.
• Defective equipment provided by equipment suppliers.
• Risk assessments for agricultural processes and the use of machinery and equipment not carried out and causing avoidable accidents.

If you have been injured or have contracted an industrial disease, such as farmer’s lung, whilst working in an agricultural environment you may be entitled to compensation. To find out if you are able to make a claim talk to one of our personal injury specialists to arrange a free compensation claim meeting. Contact Kevin or Jason for free confidential advice on 01752 668246 or send an email by clicking here.