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Health and Safety in Agriculture
Agriculture has one of the worst fatal accident and occupational ill health records of any major employment sector. While the industry accounts for only 1.7% of the workforce in Great Britain it accounts for 16% of the fatal injuries to workers (latest 2005-06 statistics) and has a prevalence rate of self-reported illness which is significantly higher than the average for all industries
Fatal accidents in agriculture
The provisional fatal injury rate in agriculture for 2005/06 was 8.3 fatalities per 100,000 workers - the highest of any industrial sector. Included in the definition of agriculture is horticulture, forestry and other related industries. In mainstream agriculture the area for particular concern is the self-employed.
In the ten year period from 1995/1996 to 2004/2005 a total of 489 people have been killed as a result of agricultural work activities and many more have been injured or suffered ill health.
This means an average of 49 people each year are killed in the industry - almost one death per week!
Of the 489 people killed over the past ten years:
160 were employees
265 were self employed
64 were members of the public, of which
32 of these were children under the age of 16 years old
The main causes of death to workers continue to be:
transport (being run over or vehicle overturns) - accounting for 24% of fatalities.
falling from a height (through fragile roofs, trees etc) - 17%.
struck by moving or falling objects (bales, trees etc) - 16%.
asphyxiation / drowning - 9%
trapped by something collapsing or overturning - 8%
contact with machinery - 8%
livestock related fatalities - 8%
contact with electricity - 6%
Consider your Health & Safety responsibilities
These are probably NOT daunting, but you may need to take some actions
As an employer, an employee responsible for supervising others, self-employed or a contractor (of any type) ??
1) Do you really understand your responsibilities? If you understand more you might well find you do not need to worry as much or know where you can improve.
2) Are you honestly as up to date as you could be? New regulations may have come in since you last looked at the subject. You may have forgotten some facts..
3) Can you and those you work with undertake practical, workable and dynamic risk assessments? This is not difficult. There is an easy to use format.
4) Do you find it easy to complete method statements for any contracts if asked?
5) If you found yourself in a legal dispute over some aspect of health and safety at work, could you honestly say you had taken all reasonable measures to keep yourself as up to date as possible and by so doing tried to ensure the safety of all those you work with as well as the general public?
If you have answered 'No' to most of the above consider investing in some time for yourself and your business during the week of 24th to 28th November 2008.
Sign up for the next Lantra Awards Health and Safety and Practical Risk Assessment training course. Call Lantra Awards Head Office or the course co-ordinator on 01943 850772.