Did you know that there is nearly one fatal accident a week on a farm?

You could be forgiven for thinking that accidents are unlikely to happen in an open field but agricultural injuries are very common. Whilst the workforce has dwindled over the years, with less than 2% of all workers employed, farming accidents still accounts for over 15% of all workplace fatalities.

In a sense, farm workers are not unlike construction workers, exposed to injuries from machinery, falling from height, illnesses caused as a result of high levels of noise or the use of vibrating tools used during the course of work.

Common Accidents and Injuries

Some of the most common injuries are as a result of machinery.

There are some very dangerous pieces of machinery on a farm. People have been injured by the blades on farming equipment, have been pulled into machinery and have received serious injury off moving parts. Machinery needs to have proper guards where appropriate and farm workers need to be provided with proper training and given the personal protective equipment and clothing that they need.

Accidents involving vehicles.

There are a lot of vehicles in agriculture ranging from the largest 4 wheel drives to combine harvesters, from quad bikes to tractors. The risks are obvious and the injuries predictable. Collisions between vehicles and personnel, damages caused when passengers in vehicles that come into contact with buildings or even animals. Uneven ground is an occupational hazard and farm vehicles can overturn.

Falling from heights.

Workers often have to be at heights, for example when manoeuvring bales of hay, or working in farm outbuildings. Any employer has to carry out appropriate risk assessments and farm employers are no different. Again the use of personal protective equipment/ clothing has to be considered. Should there be harnesses in use? Should hard hats be provided in some situations? All risks have to be considered and dealt with if the employer is going to avoid claims for compensation.

Injury caused by using loud or vibrating tools.

There are many incidents involving the prolonged or incorrect exposure to excessive noise or vibration and serious health problems can result. It is the employer’s responsibility to manage the use of such equipment and provide the appropriate hearing or hand protection and limit the exposure as much as possible. Additionally, farms can be very dry dusty places and there can also be storage of dry materials like cereals or hay. Lung problems are not uncommon, such as asthma and there is a condition known as farmer’s lung. These are risks that need to be taken into account and appropriate measures taken to limit exposure.

An obvious occupational hazard on many farms is the animals.

There are many reported accidents involving a visitor to a farm being trampled by cows and the workers on a farm run the same sort of risks. A good percentage of injuries are caused as a result of an altercation with large livestock.

Last but certainly not least, agricultural workers can be exposed to many dangerous chemicals and pesticides during the course of their employment.

Employees have to have full training in the use of these products, be provided with the relevant equipment and their employer has to ensure that dangerous chemicals are correctly stored and ventilated.

If you or someone you know has been injured whilst working on a farm, there may well be a claim for compensation and you should contact an expert to help you with it.