‘Over 40 people have died on farms – it’s time to make a change’ – FUW

Written by William Kellett

Over 40 people have been killed on farms in the UK this year according to fatality notifications from the Health Service Executive (HSE), including nine in Wales since January 2020.

The numbers bring home the harrowing reality just how dangerous farming can be and the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) is calling on the industry to make a change and start taking safety on farms seriously.

FUW Deputy President Ian Rickman said:

“We need to let that statistic sink in. Over 40 people have died on farms across the UK in 2020.

That’s over 40 families who have lost a loved one and who are going through trauma, stress and are no doubt experiencing anxiety as well.

“The figure is exceptionally higher than last year and we must make changes on our farms to drastically reduce the number of fatalities.”

Health and safety challenges


The FUW, as part of the Wales Farm Safety Partnership, is committed to highlighting that there are serious health and safety challenges on farms and through its work with the group aims to help improve the situation and to save lives on farms.

Rickman continued:

The truth is that farming is a hazardous industry. We work with potentially dangerous machinery, vehicles, chemicals, livestock, at height or near pits and silos.

“It is also pretty clear that as an industry we could do much better at keeping ourselves and family members safe from harm.

“The numbers confirm the most tragic of incidents, but don’t include the little accidents and near misses, which maybe should serve as a warning,” he added.

“So please, when you leave the house in the morning and say ‘see you later’ – mean it. Mean it right down to your very core.

Pay attention to what you’re doing, slow down a bit, check that the brake is on and the engine off when you get off the tractor, and wear that helmet when you’re on the quad bike and be safe.

“Of course it’s easier said than done, especially on a busy farm where there is never enough time to sit back, but planning the job – whatever that may be – could well be a life-saver,” added Rickman.

The post ‘Over 40 people have died on farms – it’s time to make a change’ – FUW appeared first on Agriland.co.uk.

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[Y Fan Wen]

Statistics on reported road casualties in Great Britain for the year ending June 2018 show there were:

• 1,770 reported road deaths
• 26,610 people killed or seriously injured
• 165,100 casualties of all severities, a decrease of 6%

1770 is over 4 a day!!!

 

[Bury the Trash]

Compare like with like.
There are far, far fewer people working within,connected with agriculture than all those that use the roads .

 

[Hampton]

Statistics on reported road casualties in Great Britain for the year ending June 2018 show there were:

• 1,770 reported road deaths
• 26,610 people killed or seriously injured
• 165,100 casualties of all severities, a decrease of 6%

1770 is over 4 a day!!!

Are you claiming that it’s not a problem?

 

[Y Fan Wen]

Are you claiming that it’s not a problem?

Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

 

[glasshouse]

Written by William Kellett

Over 40 people have been killed on farms in the UK this year according to fatality notifications from the Health Service Executive (HSE), including nine in Wales since January 2020.

The numbers bring home the harrowing reality just how dangerous farming can be and the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) is calling on the industry to make a change and start taking safety on farms seriously.

FUW Deputy President Ian Rickman said:

“We need to let that statistic sink in. Over 40 people have died on farms across the UK in 2020.



“The figure is exceptionally higher than last year and we must make changes on our farms to drastically reduce the number of fatalities.”

Health and safety challenges


The FUW, as part of the Wales Farm Safety Partnership, is committed to highlighting that there are serious health and safety challenges on farms and through its work with the group aims to help improve the situation and to save lives on farms.

Rickman continued:



“It is also pretty clear that as an industry we could do much better at keeping ourselves and family members safe from harm.

“The numbers confirm the most tragic of incidents, but don’t include the little accidents and near misses, which maybe should serve as a warning,” he added.

“So please, when you leave the house in the morning and say ‘see you later’ – mean it. Mean it right down to your very core.



“Of course it’s easier said than done, especially on a busy farm where there is never enough time to sit back, but planning the job – whatever that may be – could well be a life-saver,” added Rickman.

The post ‘Over 40 people have died on farms – it’s time to make a change’ – FUW appeared first on Agriland.co.uk.

Continue reading on the Agriland Website...

If u want 21st century safety, better start paying more than the current 1980 S prices

 

[milkloss]

Yep. Charge £15 a bovine, £5 a lamb and £1 a tonne on grain for safety charges. Straight in the farmers pocket.

 

[teslacoils]

How about pay a decent price for produce so farming attracts workers under 65 who don't have to work all hours and can afford decent facilities?

 

[glasshouse]

How about pay a decent price for produce so farming attracts workers under 65 who don't have to work all hours and can afford decent facilities?

Exactly

 

[Hampton]

Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

Farewell to thee! but not farewell
To all my fondest thoughts of thee:
Within my heart they still shall dwell;
And they shall cheer and comfort me.

Back to the op.
The death rate on farms is tragic, and seems worse when it happens at this time of year.
Often think of that poor northern Irish family at this time of year who died on that dairy farm. Devastating

 

[Goweresque]

How about pay a decent price for produce so farming attracts workers under 65 who don't have to work all hours and can afford decent facilities?

Its generally not employees who die in agricultural accidents. The majority are self employed - owner occupiers/tenants. And I doubt there's many 65+ year old employees out there anyway.

Farming's main issue is its lack of profitability, which means the workers are often the same people who own the business, peasant farming in effect. If it was profitable enough to allow the separation of labour and capital (ie all workers and management were paid employees, and the owners were not involved in the day to day running of the business, as is the case in just about every other industry) then H&S improvements would soon follow.

 

[Aircooled]

A one man band forced to mass produce stuff at 1990's prices, the wife works off farm to support income, all manner of stupid regulations and schemes, box tickers galore. Slurry ban one of the worst, and then there's the tb test now 3 times a yr despite no tb on farm. Health and safety for the privileged. Cheap food - carry on.
Ps no more box tickers required.

 

[Gerbert]

Why would you continue farming if the pay isn't there? Don't whine and whine, go do something else. How can you blame low prices when you enforce said prices by keeping the supply up.

 

[glasshouse]

Why would you continue farming if the pay isn't there? Don't whine and whine, go do something else. How can you blame low prices when you enforce said prices by keeping the supply up.

Yawn