Agricultural Accidents

Jones Oil Presents AN INFOGRAPHIC LOOK AT AGRICULTURAL ACCIDENTS Global Agriculture Over one billion people are employed in the agriculture industry all over the world, accounting for an incredible 35% of total global employment. With so many people working in the industry, it's no surprise to learn that there are often work-related accidents. However, the sheer number of these accidents (and how much of the total number of global fatal workplace accidents they account for) might just suprise you... On average, there are approximately 170,000 fatal accidents involving agricultural work all 51% over the world. This accounts for 51% of the total number of fatal work accidents globally The Most Common Types of Injuries on Farms Globally: Falling from Height Lifting and Handling Vehicles and Hazardous Substances Weather Threats Machinery Republic of Ireland Agricultural Accidents Ireland, like the United Kingdom, has a thriving agricultural industry. Around 150,000 people are employed in the Agricultural industry in Ireland, representing approximately 5.3% of the national workforce. With so many people employed in the industry, accidents (both fatal and non-fatal) are reasonably common, with an average of 2,000 accidents happening on Irish farms each and every year. Let's have a look at the Irish statistics.. 75% 2,000 accidents happen on Irish farms each Ireland has an agricultural year. 75% of those accidents are associated with tractors and machinery, trips and falls accident rate that is 2 times and livestock that of the European Union average There were 22 agricultural deaths in Ireland in 2010, 22 in 2011 and 21 in 2012. Between 2000 and 2012, fatal accidents were caused by the following: 30% 20% 10% 0% Vehicles Machinery 21% Falls Livestock Other 28% 19% 14% 18% The most common health issues confronted by agricultural workers are: O Noise exposure Musculoskeletal disorders O Skin diseases (chemical contact, burns, melanoma, skin cancer) A Allergic respiratory disease (farmer's lung, grain dust asthma) A Other respiratory disease (fumes, organic dust toxic syndrome) Pesticide exposure (cancer, neurotoxic disease, immunology disease) Biological exposure (tuberculosis, tetanus, anthrax, leptospyrosis) United Kingdom Agricultural Accidents Agriculture is big business in the United Kingdom, with 1.5% of the entire population working in the agriculture industry. As you might expect then, both fatal and non-fatal accidents are common in the UK. In fact, fatalities resulting from agriculture are higher than any other sector of industry, and non-fatal accidents are common and grossly underreported. It is estimated that only 25% of non- fatal injuries are reported by agricultural employees. Let's have a closer look at the numbers... Up to 20% Agricultural activity accounts for up to 20% 8 DEATHS PER 100,000 WORKERS In the financial year 2010/11 there were 42 fatalities in the United Kingdom resulting from agriculture. of the UK's fatalities in This represents 8 deaths for every 100,000 workers the workplace every year. in the UK agricultural industry The Most Common Causes of Death in UK Agriculture: Transportation Falling from Height Struck by Falling Object Asphyxiation 26% 16% 16% 10% Contact with Machinery 8% Livestock-related Trapped 6% Electrocution 10% 3% General Safety Tips With so many fatal and non-fatal accidents in the agricultural industry all over the world, it's important to stick to some general safety guidelines in order to ensure you and your employees don't end up as another statistic. Here's a visual guide to staying safe when working in the agricultural industry... Machinery: CE Ensure equipment conforms to national safety standards Ensure machinery is used correctly by trained staff Maintain machinery and ensure regular safety checks Ensure items have instructions on Ensure second hand machinery has all documentation on usage and safety Vehicles: Drive and park all vehicles safely and secure keys Check vehicles have adequate roll- over protection Maintain vehicles and ensure regular safety checks Protect drivers and handlers with safety equipment Maintain traffic routes and ensure visibility on routes Preventing Falls: STOP Avoid going on roofs whenever it's possible Plan work at Ensure correct equipment including non-slip footwear Ensure workers never walk on fragile roofs directly height extremely carefully Ensure ladders are safe and properly maintained Public safety: STOP Ensure good visibility at public road access points Ensure livestock fencing along public roads are stock-proof Ensure public roadways are kept free of hazards Place warning signs on road margins during farm activity Ensure all vehicles comply with the Road Traffic Acts Sources: hse.gov.uk | teagasc.ie | gov.uk guardian.co.uk | hsa.ie | farmersjournal.ie osha.europa.eu | ilo.org | fao-ilo.org JONES OIL