The farming and agriculture sector is can be a dangerous working environment, especially if precautions are not taken. Although it only represents 1.8% of the workforce in Great Britain, The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) report that it accounts for around 19% of the fatal injuries each year.
Working in the agricultural industry is hazardous and can expose you to many and varied risks.
You may be injured as a result of exposure to chemicals in pesticides or exposure to asbestos. Working with livestock carries the risk of injury as a result of exposure to urine, as well as the risk of animals such as cattle, pigs and horses being unpredictable causing injuries. |
In 2016, 27 deaths occurred as a result of workplace accidents on farms.
Some of those deaths were caused by vehicle accidents, some as a result of a fall from height, some from drowning.
Others involved fires, contact with electricity and animal related accidents.
Some of those deaths were caused by vehicle accidents, some as a result of a fall from height, some from drowning.
Others involved fires, contact with electricity and animal related accidents.
Your employer owes you a duty of care which requires them to provide you with a safe place of work and a safe system of work.
The employer also has a duty to provide protective equipment and to carry out risk assessments before you undertake your duties. Given the nature of the work, risks can change for example as a result of weather conditions which may quickly render an otherwise safe task much more risky and you should be trained to undertake dynamic risk assessments. Your employer should also provide training on potential risks that you may be exposed to in carrying out your duties. |
Systems should be put in place to manage risks and minimise the risk of injury to you.
Farm workers frequently work alone and in a remote inaccessible area due to the nature of the work and whilst working alone does not necessarily increase the risk of injury, it does mean that if an injury is suffered, it may be more difficult for you to summon help and for that help to reach you. Your employer should take steps to protect you, including consideration of providing a means of communication that does not rely on mobile telephones which can have poor or no reception in certain areas.
If you suffer an injury as a result of your employer not taking steps to protect you, you may be entitled to damages to compensate you for your physical injuries and for financial losses including loss of earnings, cost of private treatment and travel for treatment.
Farm workers frequently work alone and in a remote inaccessible area due to the nature of the work and whilst working alone does not necessarily increase the risk of injury, it does mean that if an injury is suffered, it may be more difficult for you to summon help and for that help to reach you. Your employer should take steps to protect you, including consideration of providing a means of communication that does not rely on mobile telephones which can have poor or no reception in certain areas.
If you suffer an injury as a result of your employer not taking steps to protect you, you may be entitled to damages to compensate you for your physical injuries and for financial losses including loss of earnings, cost of private treatment and travel for treatment.
Our lawyers are experienced and will be able to advise you on your prospects of bringing a claim.