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- MON: Al Murray calls time on risk-taking as Farm Safety Week begins
- TUE: Farm Safety Week 2017: Machinery and transport - danger in the driving seat
- WED: Farm Safety Week: Falls and falling objects - a farming family's story
- THU: Farm Safety Week: 'A minor lapse of judgement' - dangers of livestock
- FRI: Farm Safety Week: Managing the safety of children on farm
Agriculture needs to improve its safety record and there is no doubt about it, writes NFU farm safety and transport adviser Tom Price.
In fact the latest statistics from the HSE show agriculture still suffers from the highest rate of workplace fatal injury of any industrial sector in Great Britain. The way to compare the safety records of different industries is to look at injury rates per 100,000 persons employed.
Using this measure the fatal injury rate for agriculture last year was 7.61 per 100,000 persons employed. This is massively above the all industry average which was just 0.43 per 100,000 employed.
What does this mean in numbers?It means that last year 27 persons working in agriculture lost their lives last year in workplace accidents.
The key to improving the safety record of agriculture is to manage risk. We all manage risk as part of our everyday lives. We manage the risk of being knocked down when crossing the road by checking the traffic before stepping off the pavement. We manage the risk of injury from a driving accident by putting a seat belt on.
Accidents can be prevented but an awareness of the risks we face working in agriculture and how to manage them must be improved. This is where Farm Safety Week comes into play. Farm Safety Week is an industry initiative to help farmers improve the safety record. Each day will focus on one area of risk and highlight ways that farmers can manage risk and avoid preventable accidents.
Monday sees the publication of more detailed information on farm accidents that occurred last year. Tuesday focuses on the biggest cause of fatal injury - transport and machinery. Wednesday targets the risks from working at height and the devastating effect a fall can have. Thursday looks at livestock and slurry and Friday focuses on children and the need to protect the most vulnerable on farm.
Support Farm Safety Week. Look at the way you do things – identify risks and manage them.
For more information visit www.yellowwellies.org or follow @yellowwelliesUK on Twitter/Facebook using the hashtag #FarmSafetyWeek
Read farm safety advice
- Farm safety on NFUonline
- Transport accidents can be prevented by following “Safe Stop”
- Falls from height and workshop accidents can be prevented by using the right kit and hiring in equipment when needed
- Measures can be taken to control the risk from livestock
- Risks from overhead lines can be avoided
- Visit the Farm Safety Partnership website here
- Read the HSE's farming sector guide
- HSE figures on work-related deaths released
- Blog: Fatal accidents highlight risk management
- Blog: Three deaths highlight risks for older workers
- Blog: Farm vehicles and children