Agriculture Sector – Useful Health & Safety Information

Why Health & Safety is important to this sector

With high numbers and rates of fatal injury to workers, agriculture, forestry and fishing is the riskiest industry sector. Fewer than one in a hundred employees work in agriculture, but about one in ten fatal injuries to employees are in the sector, equivalent to one death per week. In 2010/11 there were: 34 fatal injuries to workers. The average over the previous five years was 35. This is a third lower than in 1981, but the rate is much higher than in any other major industry group; eight fatal injuries to members of the public. The average over the previous five years was five. Three of these fatalities were to persons aged 16 or under; both major and over three day injury rates were lower than previous five years averages, but it is estimated that well under half of all reportable injuries are actually reported.

Situation where you might need Health & Safety support

Health and safety is a fundamental requirement of a sustainable farming business and should be regarded as an essential part of farm business management. Unwise risk-taking is an underlying problem in the industry and those working on their own are especially vulnerable. Farming is a hazardous industry. Farmers and farm workers work with potentially dangerous machinery, vehicles, chemicals, livestock, at heights or near pits and silos. They are exposed to the effects of bad weather, noise and dust. The risks also include family members working at the farm and children living at the farm, all of which you have a duty to protect.

The most common situations and causes of death and non fatal injuries and therefore where you may require support are:

transport – being struck by moving vehicles;
falls from a height;
being struck by a moving or falling object, e.g., bales, trees etc;
being trapped by something collapsing or overturning;
contact with machinery;
injury by an animal;
asphyxiation or drowning;
contact with electricity.

Actions you may need to take

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 place duties on companies and individuals to ensure that adequate provision is made for health and safety at work.

Employers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of employees and any others who may be affected by what they do.

Ensure you hold appropriate Employers and Public Liability insurance
Identify the main risks within your business and develop a plan to manage them
Decide what harm could come to people and how to manage that harm & risk. Take into consideration the safety of any contractors
Provide appropriate training, taking into account capabilities, knowledge and experience of workers. You may find that specific training is necessary for Spraying, Use of Chain saws etc.
Communicate and consult with employee and record all of the above. If in any doubt make sure you have someone competent to help you meet your Health and Safety duties.

NatWest Mentor can help you with all of these aspects – be it through auditing your current documents, liaising with and supporting your appointed Competent Person, providing 24/7 advice or providing training.

Result of doing/Not doing something

Agriculture is managed by the Health and Safety Executive whose inspectors seek to secure compliance with the law. Compliance is secured by a range of methods including:

On site visits (announced and unannounced)
Investigation of accidents and complaints
Providing guidance and support at visits, by phone or at agricultural events
Safety, Health and Awareness days
Enforcement such as an Improvement or Prohibition notice.

While there are no simple solutions to the complex issues associated with Agriculture, NatWest Mentor can support you in ensuring you workplace is safe and complies with legislation. By helping you instil a safety culture through providing the correct documentation and working with your staff to get them confident about Risk Assessments, as well as supporting you with a 24/7 advice line, you can be confident you are in the best position to keep your workers safe.