Figures show fall in fatalities on British farms

Health and Safety Executive figures show 27 people have died in accidents on Britain’s farms over the past 12 months.

The HSE said the figure for 2013-14 marked a reduction on the previous 12 months, which saw 29 deaths. It is also lower than the five-year average for farming of 33 fatalities.

But the rate of fatal injury in agriculture, at 8.77 per 100,000 workers, is still far higher than other industries such as construction, which recorded 1.98 deaths per 100,000 workers.

HSE head of agriculture Rick Brunt said: “Although it is encouraging that the number of deaths in agriculture continues to decline, there are still too many, as every death affects a family and a community.

See also UK farm death toll down, says HSE

“The main risks in agriculture are well known by the industry and simple, common-sense, nil- or low-cost changes are often all that is needed to ensure everyone comes home safe from their day’s work.”

Richard Percy, chairman of rural insurer NFU Mutual, also welcomed the fall in fatality numbers, but warned that the cost of serious farm accidents had risen to a record high of £25m in 2013.

“Our claims data shows the farming community is still not winning its battle with farm accidents. The number of serious accidents, where someone suffers a life-changing injury and may require a lifetime of specialist care, remains high.”

Accidents involving machinery were the most common and costly farm injury and fatality claims totalled more than £19m, said Mr Percy.

“Falls from height, such as accidents with machinery, usually result in very serious life-changing injuries and the cost of claims in 2013 reached more than £3.7m. The emotional cost of these injuries is immeasurable.

“And livestock related injuries and fatalities cost more than £2.5m, with 87% of livestock-related injuries being caused by cattle,” he said.

Commenting on the fatality figures, NFU vice-president Guy Smith added: “Farmers and farmworkers are still dying because of bad practice. As we enter the peak ‘machinery season’ on farms I would like to remind people of our key ‘Safe stop’ message – don’t get out of the cab until you have engaged the handbrake, put controls in neutral, turned off the engine and taken the keys out of the ignition.”