A risk management expert is urging the region’s farmers to improve their health and safety standards after official figures revealed the East Midlands has the highest number of work-related fatal injuries across England’s agricultural industry.
Latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reveal that four people in the region’s agricultural sector were killed in 2022/23.
Alex Cormack, of Lycetts Risk Management Services, said: “It’s tragic that the number of deaths in the region has increased. Some fatalities can be attributed to freak accidents, but others could be avoided by adopting a more rigorous approach to safety.”
Across Britain, there were 21 fatalities in agriculture – two fewer than last year.
Cormack said: “The drop in the number of fatalities is encouraging, but I would urge those who work in the industry to remain vigilant, and to avoid becoming complacent. Agriculture is still a dangerous industry to work in, coming second only to construction in the number of annual fatalities.”
A third of all fatal injuries in agriculture were caused by people coming into contact with cattle. This was followed by being struck by an object/falling from height, contact with machinery/contact with a stationary or fixed object, and contact with a moving vehicle/being trapped by something collapsing.
Fatalities in the East Midlands included a 45-year-old employee struck by an object at a farm in Worksop, an 82-year-old Matlock farm worker falling from height, and a 60-year-old farmer in the Hope Valley killed after coming into contact with a fixed/stationary object.
Cormack said: “Over the last five years, 64 per cent of all fatalities in the sector involved the self-employed. This suggests that although employers may be conscientious about health and safety measures and training for their staff, they are not giving their own personal safety enough attention.
“The ‘cost-of-business’ crisis is putting a lot of pressure on the agricultural industry, and there could be a danger that in order to make savings, or to save time, some people may be tempted to take risks. This could leave families devastated, and businesses ruined.
“To help prevent such tragedies occurring, risk assessments should be thorough, all appropriate training should be undertaken, and safety policies should be implemented.”
