Warning to farmers following five agricultural deaths in just 12 months

Farmers are being urged to be vigilant after five people were killed in the agricultural sector in Scotland in just 12 months.

Most recently tragedy struck at a farm near Turriff, with the death of 47-year-old Neil Ironside at the weekend.

Figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show 33 people across Britain were killed in agriculture in 2017/18 – up three from the previous year.

These findings have further cemented agriculture’s reputation as the riskiest industry to work in, with it reporting the highest fatal injury rate, which is around 18 times higher than the all industry rates.

Five people were killed in agriculture in Scotland this year, bringing the total number of people killed over a five-year period to 34 - an average of seven deaths per year – the highest average of all regions.

William Barne, of rural insurance specialist Lycetts’ Edinburgh office, said: “Agriculture’s high fatality rate significantly outstrips that of other industries"

“It is more than five times higher than the second most-risky industry, construction, which really drives home just how hazardous an industry it is"

“Farmers face potentially fatal risks on a daily basis, from working with unpredictable animals to potentially dangerous machinery, so protecting personal and employee health should be top priority"

“Sadly, members of the public, family members and children living on the farm also get caught up in incidents and account for some of the overall deaths"

“It is clear the burden of keeping farms safe is a heavy, but necessary one, with no room for error"

“There have been great strides with regards to health and safety over the past decades, with the number of fatal injuries to workers in agriculture falling by around half since 1981 – but we still have a huge way to go"

“Unwise risk-taking is an underlying problem in the agricultural industry" - Richard Wade, Lycetts.

“Just last week, we learned that a farmer was jailed for causing the death of a young woman by failing to replace a £75 cover on the drive shaft of a milling machine.”

Of the 33 deaths in the agricultural sector this year, four were members of the public, two of which were children.

Deaths in Scotland include a 76-year-old self-employed farmer was crushed by a bull when trying to move him to another field. It appears he was either crushed against a fence or deliberately attacked. He died from multiple injuries.

A 49-year-old farm worker was crushed beneath a tractor trailer as he carried out repairs. The trailer collapsed and fell onto him. He died from crush injuries.

A 62-year-old oyster farmer drowned while tending to oysters being grown on trestles on the seabed. As he transferred the oysters to a float, it drifted away. He waded out to retrieve equipment and drowned.

Nearly half (48%) of the agricultural workers killed in Britain were over 65 and almost twice as many self-employed people were killed as employees.

Richard Wade, of Lycetts Risk Management Services, said: “Unwise risk-taking is an underlying problem in the agricultural industry, and the most vulnerable are hit the hardest. The fatal injury rate for over 65s was nearly five times that of younger workers. Many farmers are working well past their retirement age, with little to no help, so physically, and cognitively, they are put under a lot of strain"

“These factors mean they may not appropriately assess or mitigate risks"

“Sadly, some of these deaths are a result of freak accidents, but others are preventable"