Comment – Safety and science

27th July 202428th July 2024 webmaster Farm Safety Week

It’s the end of Farm Safety Week, which if you have missed it, shame on you.

Just to recap, despite the advances in technology, many of which we in the agricultural machinery supply chain are rightly proud to supply, and the great moves in operator comfort, ease of operation, and output of all manner of kit over the last forty years, what hasn’t changed? Correct, the incidence rate of fatalities on farms (thats the deaths per 100,o00 workers). This rate, by the way has been flatlining at around 10 per 100,000.

You might at this point shrug and say ‘well thats not great, but thats OK’. It’s not, it’s about 20 times the all industry average in the UK and 6-8 times that of construction currently.

The industry is still routinely killing children and 80% of all fatalities are in the category of ‘older workers’*. I wonder why that it? Transport and being struck by moving machinery remains the key killer. As you can see many roads lead back to kit.

So I apologise if I’m not wowing you with exciting international agricultural trends and market data/sentiment, but its important to discuss, reflect and think about what is causing this, and how can we help?

There is also an interesting read here https://www.ioshmagazine.com/2024/05/02/farm-safety-sowing-seeds-change on the role of technology.

Have a safe week.

Andy