Safety warning over deaths in agriculture

A total of 455 lives have been lost in the past 10 years with 38 deaths occurring in the past 12 months alone.

The statistics, released by the Health and Safety Executive, also show that agriculture accounts for less than two per cent of the working population but that one in five work-related deaths every year takes place on a farm.

In Yorkshire 48 people were seriously injured in farming accidents last year and a rallying call has been issued to help to reduce the amount of injuries as part of a New Year pledge for the industry.

The HSE is launching the next phase in its Make the Promise campaign with the stark message that people are still dying needlessly in farm accidents.

The campaign has the backing of the many of the key national and regional farming bodies and more than 1,200 farmers in Yorkshire have already signed up to the campaign. More are now being encouraged to do the same.

The HSE's regional director for Yorkshire and the Humber, David Snowball, said: "Inspectors who investigate deaths or serious injuries across the region, particularly in the traditional rural communities of North Yorkshire, see first hand the terrible grief that families face when someone is killed.

"But it is also disheartening to see the patterns common to many of these accidents and the lack of straightforward precautions that could have prevented them.

"We offer farmers training, support and guidance on how to keep themselves and their workers safe, and we'd much rather be doing that than dealing with the aftermath of accidents."

One farmer who knows very well what damage a momentary lapse in concentration can cause is Peter Rooke who suffered a serious leg injury 18 months ago while working at his farm near Helmsley, North Yorkshire .

Mr Rooke, 20, and his father Mark were clearing guttering on the roof of a storage unit when he stepped back off the safety boards and crashed to the concrete floor below.

Fortunately, Mr Rooke survived but a broken left femur needed a steel rod and pins, leaving him off work for two months.

Since the incident the farmers have installed a safety rail and harness on the roofing.

His father said: "My greatest fear was that if he had he fallen on his head or back he would be dead, but when I heard him cry out I knew he was still alive.

"It was a terrifying experience for us all and I am so grateful that he made a good recovery."

The NFU's regional director, Richard Ellison, said: "We hear all too often of people seriously hurt or killed as a result of farm accidents and the loss is felt all the more keenly when it could have been avoided.

"I would urge everyone involved in farming to make a commitment to 'Come Home Safe'.

"Not every accident is avoidable, but in many cases prevention is simply about using common sense and not taking short-cuts.

"That's a pledge everyone can make."

For more information on the campaign visit www.hse.gov.uk/makethepromise.