Those working within the agricultural industry are some of the most likely UK workers to sustain injuries during their working day. Thanks to the dangerous equipment and hazardous machines that are a common part of necessary work in an agricultural environment, this particular industry is one of the most dangerous in the country, leading to thousands of injuries each year. In fact, the agricultural industry accounts for up to 20 per cent of all workplace fatalities on an annual basis.
Types of Agricultural Injury
There are a huge number of possible injuries that could occur in an agricultural environment, but some of the most common injuries include:
- Injuries caused by heavy farm machinery
- Injuries caused by falling from height
- Accidents involving animals and livestock
- Accidents that resulted in a lack of formal training
- Injuries caused by vehicles, including tractors or quad bikes
- Injuries caused by falling objects
- Accidents caused by falling materials
- Accidents caused by unsafe machinery
- Accidents caused by unsafe equipment and tools
Claiming Against Your Employer
Although agricultural accidents can often appear to be the fault of those who are injured, many injuries are actually the result of improper car on the part of the employer, who is responsible for ensuring that each and every employee is protected from harm. Under UK health and safety laws, employees working in an agricultural environment should be protected under the same regulations and guidelines as those working in more sedate workplaces, such as offices. However, there are also a number of regulations that relate specifically to the agricultural industry and should be upheld by agricultural employers at all times.
(Note: this article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be read as a promotion, solicitation or endorsement. The author has no affiliation with Clearwater Solicitors, any of its agencies or subsidiaries, or with any other personal injury law firm.)
Employer Responsibility
Your employer has a number of responsibilities, but one of their main roles it to keep their employees safe. The first step in this process is to provide all workers with sufficient training that is relevant to their job role and daily tasks. This training could relate to the type of machinery used, the type of work conducted, or the working environment. For example, those who work with tractors should receive specific tractor training, while those who work with livestock will require alternative training. These working practice guidelines should be updated regularly to ensure they continue to cover every aspect of each employee's role, such as changes in duration of work or change in intensity of work.
Employers are also responsible for ensuring that each and every machine or tool used in an agricultural environment is suitable for use. Many manufacturers provide advice on the frequency with which checks are required, but government guidelines often dictate more frequent maintenance routines to ensure that no employee is left injured by faulty tools. This regular assessment of the equipment used also related to alterations in individual job roles, which should be risk assessed by the employer or a qualified third party on a regular basis or before they are changed to make sure that no employee is expected to undertake dangerous or hazardous work without receiving the correct training or equipment beforehand.
Carol Smith works with personal injury solicitors from many years, she has much knowledge about personal injury compensation claims, and she lives in London with her family.
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