Figures published by the Health and Safety Executive on Wednesday show a moderate reduction in fatal injuries in the agriculture sector, but concerning levels of work-related injuries.

Against an overall drop of 11 percent, major injuries (ranging from amputations to fractures and burns) in the agriculture sector remained relatively unchanged at 375 compared to 376 last year. Injury levels rose compared to 2011. Major injuries recorded by HSE, measured from April to March, showed an overall average of 78.5 injuries per 100,000 employees – a significant drop compared to the five year average and over three times lower than agriculture's record.

Fatal accidents in agriculture fell from 33 in 2011/12 to 29 last year. Even so, agriculture still accounted for almost 20 percent of work-place fatalities, despite employing less than 1 percent of the UK population.

Farming remains one of the UK's most dangerous sectors, second only to waste and recycling for the number of major workplace injuries (with 239.4 major injuries per 100,000 employees compared to 369.8 per 100,000 employees).

Chair of HSE, Judith Hackitt said, "This year’s figures demonstrate that Britain continues to be improve its health and safety performance, with important falls in the number of workers fatally injured and the number of employees suffering major injuries.  But we still see too many deaths and injuries occur in the work place many of which could have been prevented through simple safety measures.  Getting this right is the key to ensuring that everyone can make it home safely at the end of their working day."

Nevertheless, the NFU claimed the figures herald "a step in the right direction" and demonstrate that industry-led initiatives can be effective in reducing threats posed to farm workers. The unchanged workplace injury figures in farming stand against overall all-time lows.

Adam Quinney, NFU vice president and chair of the voluntary Farm Safety Partnership said, "We are actively working hard to try to improve the safety record of the industry and although this downward trend is welcome, more needs to be done. The NFU meets with its members regularly to discuss the importance of on-farm safety and we produce a number of safety related briefings and business guides to help farms consider the risks from their activities."

He continued, "Simple measures can save lives, the Safe Stop campaign launched by the Farm Safety Partnership earlier this month urges people to ensure handbrakes are in working order on machinery, and that the safe stop procedure is followed (hand brake on, controls in neutral, engine off, keys out). Telling someone of what you are doing, taking a charged mobile phone in your pocket and knowing that a 999 call doesn't need signal from your provider can also save your life."