Workplace fatality figures released last week by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that agriculture remains the UK’s most dangerous profession by a significant margin.

Workplace fatality figures released last week by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that agriculture remains the UK’s most dangerous profession by a significant margin, with a fatality rate of 7.73 deaths per 100,000 workers, compared to a baseline rate of 0.46 deaths per 100,000 workers across all sectors in the UK.

Overall, there were 144 deaths at work in Britain in 2015/16, which is 7% lower than the five year average, but HSE noted that, while there has been a downward trend in fatal accidents in the past 20 years, this appears to have levelled off over the past four years.  

Although there was a drop-off in the number of fatalities in agriculture (with 27 workers killed on farms and two member of the public, compared to a five year average of 32), the sector remains by far the most dangerous proportionally, accounting for 19% of workplace fatalities whilst employing less than 1% of the workforce.

Waste and recycling, manufacturing and construction are other sectors with consistently high numbers of fatal accidents.

Commenting on the stats, HSE's Head of Agriculture, Rick Brunt said, "Although the statistics show fewer people were killed compared with previous years, 29 deaths is 29 too many.  We know that these numbers fluctuate and, sadly, agriculture still has the poorest health and safety record of any industry in Great Britain.  There is nothing new about the risks that farmer's face, and all too often people are killed because they don't take simple precautions.  I urge farmers to carefully consider the risks they face and to plan how they will do their job safely."