The farming and agricultural sector, commonly associated with farming, arboriculture and horticulture, is potentially a very high risk environment. This risk continues to increase due to the sector progressing towards a more industrialised setting.
As a result of the dangerousness associated with the agricultural sector, it has gained a reputation for statistically having one of the worst fatal accident and occupational health records of any employment sector. Information released from the HSE showed that a person is more likely to have a fatal accident if they work in the agricultural sector compared to any other employment sector.
Common agricultural accidents include:-
- Transport/ tractor accidents
- Machinery entanglements
- Livestock related incidents
- Falling from a height
- Stuck by moving or falling objects
Current law which relates to agricultural accidents is stated in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. This legislation states that employers have a duty to ensure that adequate provisions are made for the health and safety of their workers. Equipment and machinery accidents are particularly common in the agricultural industry, most of which could have been avoided if the employer had taken the correct safety measures.
Although agricultural accident claims are commonly associated with accidents at work, members of the public are also at risk of becoming injured in an agricultural setting.
If you have suffered from a farming or agricultural-related incident, contact Moore Blatch for specialist advice on a compensation claim. Please call our free phone number on 0800 731 2856 or alternatively complete the online enquiry form for free, no obligation, expert advice.
