Safety plea after two farmers killed in accidents
© Tim Scrivene Farmers are being urged to prioritise safety in the workplace this winter after two more people lost their lives on UK farms.
A farmer was killed after he fell through a fragile roof while working at height on a farm in the south-west of England on 10 January.
In a separate, unrelated incident, a farmer was killed while operating a tractor in south-west Scotland on 5 January.
See also: Top farming safety tips from Farmers Weekly readers
The Health and Safety Executive has published notifications of both agricultural fatalities. The identities of both the deceased have not been released.
The latest deaths mean 30 people have now lost their lives on farms in Great Britain in this current financial year, which surpasses the previous year’s total of 27 farm fatalities.
NFU vice-president David Exwood said: “We send our condolences to the friends and family of the farmers who have died.
“It’s always incredibly sad to hear about fatalities on farm, and we would encourage our members to ensure that farm safety is a real priority in their workplace.
“Agriculture has one of the highest rates of fatal injuries in the workplace. We often know the causes and risks of incidents on farm, and taking five minutes or even five seconds to think about a job before completing it can help save a life or stop a life-changing accident.”