Figures released on Wednesday by the Health and Safety Executive, which coincide with Farm Safety Week in the UK, show the number of fatal accidents associated with agricultural work dropped by a significant amount last year.  

Overall, the provisional statistics show the number of people killed at work in Britain fell below the five year average in 2012-13. HSE said the rate of fatal injury has dropped to 0.5 workers per 100,000, compared to a five-year average of 0.6.

In agriculture, 29 fatalities were recorded last year. Whilst this is a significant reduction compared to 2011-12, when 35 agricultural workers lost their lives, the sector remains the most dangerous in the UK.

With an average of 8.8 deaths per 100,000 workers, or 36 fatalities each year, agriculture is proportionally more dangerous than any other occupation. Despite employing less than one percent of the UK population, the industry accounts for almost a fifth of all work-related fatalities. Only the waste and recycling sector coming close (the sector has a rate of 8.2 deaths per 100,000 workers).

HSE Chair Judith Hackitt said on Wednesday, "These figures are a reminder to us all of why health and safety is so important. Although the number of people killed at work has dropped significantly, last year 148 people failed to return home to their loved ones.

"We all have a part to play to ensure people come home safe at the end of the working day and good leadership, employee engagement and effective risk-management are key to achieving this."

In addition to those killed at work, seven members of the public died on farms last year.

NFU spokesperson Benjamin Ellis commented on the figures' release, "We are actively working hard to try to improve [agriculture's] record. The Farm Safety Partnership is leading the way in raising awareness, with each organisation represented dedicated to raising standards. But it is vital that everyone in the industry plays their part."

Mr Ellis said that simple measures such as telling someone what you are doing, taking a charged mobile phone in your pocket and knowing that a 999 call doesn't need signal from your phone provider can prove life-saving.

He added that people should take action to prevent incidents from occurring in the first place, "like following the safe stop procedure (hand-brake on, controls in neutral, engine off, keys out) and not cutting corners and taking risks such as when working at height or handling livestock."

There are a number of initiatives, training programmes and online resources available for farm businesses looking to improve health and safety.