Reaction from Richard Evens, Commercial Training Director at St John Ambulance, to the news that agriculture has the worst safety record of any industry:

“The statistics revealed by the work and pensions minister, Lord Freud, make for some worrying reading. With agriculture experiencing the highest rate of fatal injuries of all industries in the UK, as well one of the highest rates of major injuries, the industry seriously needs to readdress its attitude to health and safety.

There is no doubt that having people on farms and in the workplace who are trained in first aid could be the difference between a life lost and a life saved. The minutes after someone is injured by machinery or kicked by an animal could be vital if there was someone on hand to treat a patient while you wait for an ambulance.

But it is also important for staff to be confident in all elements of health and safety in order to prevent accidents happening in the first place. Anything from moving and handling to risk assessments.  

If the industry takes a proactive approach to improving health and safety, it could not only ensure a safer working environment for its employees but also reduce the likelihood of fines for non-compliance or personal injury.”