Agricultural environments are fast-paced, messy and rife with hazards. There’s no wonder it’s one of the most dangerous industries to work in, as we’ll explore later. The onus is on employers to implement protocols and precautions, and workers to follow them in order to keep everyone safe at work. In this article, we’ll delve into the danger in agriculture and how accidents can be avoided.
Figures from the agricultural industries
Reports from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show just how high the level of risk is in the agricultural industries. In 2022/23, 27 people were killed during farming and other related work activities.
These industries have the highest rates of fatal injury per 100,000 workers of all the main sectors across the country, which is staggering to think. It’s not just farming – fishing and forestry are big culprits for work-related deaths.
Most common accidents in agriculture
According to the HSE reports, injury inflicted by animals (particularly cattle) is one of the most common causes of fatalities in agriculture. One report details the fatalities, but it’s not for the faint-hearted.
But they are also commonly caused by the following:
- Falls from a height
- Impacts from moving vehicles
- Impacts from moving or falling objects
- Contact with machinery
Steps to prevent injuries and fatalities
Managing risk is essential for agricultural businesses and workplaces. Injuries can disrupt staffing and operations, and potentially lead to legal disputes if people suffer significant injuries at work. Measures should be taken to identify, mitigate and monitor hazards across the work environment.
Some of the most important health and safety principles for agricultural businesses to follow are:
- Thorough risk assessments: This is the first step for any employer and should be done regularly to protect staff. You’ll need to cover every aspect of your work environment and consider risks, hazards and solutions to mitigate them accordingly.
- Distribution of appropriate PPE: Personal protective equipment is crucial to reduce the risks when working in dangerous working conditions. For agriculture, hi-vis clothing, fall protection, safety glasses, safety boots and waterproofs are fundamental.
- Safety protocols: Steps should be put in place to determine how staff interact with animals, machinery and vehicles. For example, turning off machinery before carrying out repairs is a must and having adequate animal handling training should be a given before working with livestock.
- Training: This helps to ensure everyone is up to speed with expectations and techniques to keep them safe. Training should be updated regularly and given periodically so it’s fresh in worker’s minds.