Lawford Kidd's Blog

Specialist heath and safety experts are calling for farmers in Northern to take the necessary steps to help protect those in the agricultural sector from being injured or even killed.

Between 2004 and 2013, 76 people have died as a result of work-related farming incidents in Northern Ireland, while since the start of 2014, in excess of 40 people have died whilst working in agriculture in Ireland. Between 2014-2015, in the UK as a whole, more than 70 farmers have died in such accidents.

Incidents involving moving vehicles and cattle are the biggest causes of death on Britain’s farms, according to the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) latest fatality statistics.

Thirty three workers and four members of the public were killed on Britain’s farms during 2014/15, with around half (16) being struck or run over by farm equipment, or crushed or trampled by cattle.

The figures also show that:

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS) have together urged farmers to review their safety measures and take extra care following an inquiry into the death of Lauder farmer, Jim Sharp.

Mr Sharp, who was 66, was tragically killed earlier this year in an accident at Newbigging Walls Farm, after he became entangled with a sweep auger in a grain silo.

A new health and safety partnership has been launched to reduce the number of people who are killed or seriously injured on Scotland’s farms and crofts each year.

Figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reveal that over the past decade almost 80 men, women and children have died on Scottish farms and significantly more have been badly injured as a result of farming activities.  

The Farm Safety Scotland Partnership is committed to improving the safety record of those who live and work on Scotland’s farms and crofts.  Working together, NFU Scotland, NFU Mutual, HSE and Scottish Government has produced a new campaign leaflet “Working Together to Save Lives”.  It outlines the four most common dangers on farms – Falls, Animals, Transport and Equipment – and urges farmers not to leave their safety to FATE.