Personal Injury specialist Martin Loughridge considers the latest HSE accident statistics in the Agriculture sector.

Agriculture continues to have one of the worst fatal and major accident records of any major employment sector according to figures recently published by the HSE. Fewer than 1.5% of the working population are employed in agriculture yet the sector is responsible for between 15% and 20% of fatalities to workers each year. The industry also has a rate of major injury which is typically higher than the all industries average.

Fatal accidents in agriculture

The fatal injury rate is the highest of the main industrial sectors, including construction and quarrying. The HSE figures for 2010/11 indicate that of a total of 171 workplace fatalities 42 were in the agriculture sector ie approximately 10 deaths per 100,000 workers. In the ten-year period to April 2009 a total of 436 people died as a result of agricultural work activities ie almost one death per week. Of those 436 fatalities:

• 140 were employees (32%)
• 245 were self-employed (56%)
• 51 were members of the public, (12%) of which
• 19 of these were children under the age of 16 years old

The main causes of death to agricultural workers are:

• transport (being run over or vehicle overturns) - accounting for 26% of fatalities
• falling from a height (through fragile roofs, trees etc) - 16%
• struck by moving or falling objects (bales, trees etc) - 16%
• asphyxiation/drowning - 10%
• livestock-related fatalities - 10%
• contact with machinery - 8%
• trapped by something collapsing or overturning - 6%
• contact with electricity - 3%

Major injury in agriculture

Non-fatal injury data is subject to gross under-reporting – it is estimated that only 25% of injuries to employees in the sector are reported and only 5% for the self-employed.  This makes analysis of data and comparisons difficult. However, despite the limitations the rate of reported major injury in agriculture is one of the highest rates of the industry sectors. In 20010/11 there were 222 major injuries per 100,000 workers in agriculture, a rate which is about twice the all industries average.

Reasons

Why has agriculture failed to achieve the health and safety improvements – and reductions in fatal accidents and major injuries - seen in other heavy industries such as construction and quarrying? The Chair of the HSE Judith Hackitt believes it is because of the difficulty in getting those who work in the agriculture sector to recognise how big the problem is. She is hopeful, however, that following her recent discussion with the NFU the issue is now firmly on their agenda. Whether progress is actually made will only become clear through the HSE figures over the next few years. 
        

Davies and Partners Solicitors has extensive expertise in claiming compensation for those injured in workplace accidents, including the agriculture sector. Foroffice on 01454 619619 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it