New Figures Reveal Farming Continues to Have Highest Rate of Fatal Injury of All Industry Sectors

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Fatal Injuries in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing in GB report 2018/19 published today outlines that 39 people were killed on farms over the past year

Of those killed, 32 were agricultural workers and 7 were members of the public, including two children

Farm Safety Week aims to reduce the number of accidents which continue to give farming the poorest safety record of any occupation in the UK & Ireland

Farm Safety Week is an initiative led by the Farm Safety Foundation and supported by the Farm Safety Partnerships, the Health & Safety Executive, Health & Safety Executive for Northern Ireland and the Health & Safety Authority, Ireland

Leading farm safety charity, the Farm Safety Foundation, is calling on those working in agriculture to make a real change, following the increasing number of farmers and farm workers killed at work over the past year.

To mark the start of Farm Safety Week (15 – 19 July), the Health and Safety Executive has released its latest Fatal Injuries in Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing for Great Britain 2018/2019 report. This year, 39 farmers, farm workers and members of the public lost their lives on farms in Great Britain. Despite increased awareness of the issue (68% of farmers have awareness of Farm Safety Week), farming still has the highest rate of fatal injury of all the main industry sectors, around 18 times as high as the all industry rate, accounting for more than 22% of all workplace fatalities.

The new HSE stats for 2018/19 reveal that over a third of all agricultural fatalities recorded in the report were as a result of moving vehicles (36%), followed by animals (23%) and falls from height (18%). The ages of those suffering fatal injuries is also alarming – 8 people (25%) were over the age of 65, while two of those killed were children. Despite the work being done to improve the industry, agriculture continues to have the poorest safety record of any occupation in the UK.

Now in its seventh year, from 15-19 July, Farm Safety Week will bring together five countries over five days with one goal – to inspire farmers to look after their physical and mental wellbeing and reduce the number of life-changing and life-ending accidents on our farms. This year’s Farm Safety Week will concentrate on making a real change, bringing the focus back to farmers, farm workers and those living and working in rural communities to deliver real stories, inspiration and messages directly to them.

For further information please contact:

Georgie Smith, TVC Group

E: georgie.smith@tvcgroup.com

T: 0207 380 8000 / 07795 314789