16 April 2004 - Agriculture Has Highest Fatality Injury Rate for 2002/03
Around 50 work-related fatal accidents occur each year, whilst working in agriculture or being around the work in progress, including other similar activities such as horticulture and forestry, still remains hazardous.
Examination of the 10-year statistics shows alarming results towards the self-employed, members of the public and children:
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51% of accident victims were self-employed
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14% were members of the public
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8% were children.
The fatal injury rate in agriculture for 2002/03 was 9.5 per 100,000 workers, giving it the highest of any industrial sector.
Main causes of death in agriculture are:
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transport (being run over or vehicle overturns) - 33%
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falling from a height (through fragile roofs, trees etc) - 18%
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struck by moving or falling objects (bales, trees etc) - 14%
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contact with moving/unguarded machinery - 10%
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livestock related fatalities - 8%
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electrocutions - 7%.
