The farming industry is gearing up for this year's National Farm Safety Week, taking place next week, 24 - 28 July.
Organised by the Farm Safety Foundation, the week sets out to reduce the number of deaths and injuries and offers support and guidance for those working in the industry.
Agriculture remains the most dangerous profession in the UK – yet many of the fatalities and serious injuries reported each year can be easily avoided.
The busy harvest period, in particular, is a time when the risk of an accident occurring could increase dramatically.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the body which documents fatalities and injuries in the workplace, has encouraged everyone involved in agriculture to join the #HelpGBWorkWell conversation to talk about how they can prevent ill health, injury and death whilst at work.
Martin Temple, HSE Chair said: “I personally have some experience of the challenges and risks farmers face on a day to day basis having grown up on a farm.
“Farming has changed and with new and different working practises and a transient workforce, all farmers need to constantly revisit and re-consider the risks faced by the people working on their farm.”
Dangerous industry
Agriculture, forestry and fishing remains the riskiest industry sector in the UK with 27 workers being killed on farms last year.
Three members of the public were also killed.
That makes a total of 30 people, according to HSEs recently released fatality figures for the sector.
Mr Temple added: “National Farm Safety Week provides an ideal opportunity for everyone working in the agricultural industry to raise their voice, and have the conversation around how managing risk well in the workplace is good for farming and all those working in agriculture.”
While it is farm deaths that attract headlines, Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) president Barclay Bell warns that farming related injuries are also serious and can have a devastating impact on farm businesses.
He said these are common place, particularly when dealing with livestock, with the gap between injury and death uncomfortably narrow.
