New research highlights dangers of farm work

FARMERS are more likely to die on the job than in a car accident, according to new research from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Launching the next phase of its ‘Make the promise. Come home safe’ campaign, the HSE said agriculture accounts for one in every five work-related deaths every year despite just 1.5 per cent of the population being employed in the industry.

The HSE said its campaign message was beginning to hit home with farmers, with almost a third of those farmers targeted by the campaign said their understanding of the risks associated with working on farms had increased in recent months.

The campaign has seen some 29,000 farmers sign up to the campaign, with 42,500 ‘promise knots’ – symbolising the promise to come home safe – ordered during that time.

Said Graeme Walker, HSE’s head of agriculture:  “Everyone is aware of how common deaths from car accidents are as floral tributes by the roadside are something we tend to see most days, but the fact that male agriculture workers are more likely to die going about their work than in a car on the roads, is likely to shock most people.

"The results from our survey show that there is still much to do in encouraging farmers to think more about their actions and the consequences of them. This is likely to take a number of years, as all behaviour change does.

"The campaign is, however, gaining momentum and we want to thank the NFU and the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs for the part they are playing in raising awareness. We now want to encourage more organisations and farming communities to take ownership of the ‘Make the promise’ campaign to help the message hit home.”