Increased agricultural accident claim rates
Farming is one of the most dangerous occupations in the both the US and the UK with the risk of fatal accidents at work involving machinery entanglements, grain bin and silo entrapments, farm chemical exposures and livestock incidents.
Agricultural accident rates in the US are somewhat bleak as 22.1 fatal accidents per 100,000 workers and many more personal injuries are suffered by farm employees every year. On a much smaller yet still worrying scale, UK figures, as reported by the Health and Safety Executive, show that 29 people were killed by agricultural work activities between 1st April and 30th September 2004. This number was almost 50% more than the rate of fatal farming accidents reported during the whole year for 2003/2004.
Here is a breakdown of the agricultural accidents experienced during this six month period in the UK during 2004:
- Twenty nine people were killed in total
- Sixteen were self employed
- Eleven were employees
- Two were family members
The causes of these 29 fatal accidents at work were as follows:
- Thirty five per cent were struck by a moving vehicle or suffered fatality to an overturning vehicle
- Twenty two per cent were struck by a moving, falling or flying object
- Seventeen per cent experienced falls
- Ten per cent were struck against something
- Seven per cent were injured by an animal
- Three per cent were electrocuted
- Three per cent sustained contact with moving machinery
- Three per cent suffered asphyxiation or drowning
In response to these shocking figures, Dr Roger Nourish, Head of HSE's Agriculture and Food Sector, commented, "I think that what has happened in lots of parts of the country was that the window of opportunity was very limited. When the weather did abate, people were under pressure, and that's when they become vulnerable. It is at that point they cut corners because they are rushing around and are tired and stressed."
The last accident at work statistics published by the HSE [www.hse.gov.uk] revealed that 220 fatal injuries to workers occurred during 2004/05, 42 of which occurred in the agriculture, forestry and fishing industries. This shows that farming accidents are still rife and suggests why so many accident claims are being made. But, with the help of the HSE, there is hope for a decline in such work accidents resulting in serious personal injury or fatality.
Make a no win no fee accident claim following an agricultural accident at work
If you have been involved in an accident at work through no fault of your own then we are here to help you make a no win no fee claim.
Our personal injury solicitors are experts at dealing with work accident claims resulting from agricultural accidents to factory accidents and are proud to hold an excellent success rate.
When you contact us we will put you in touch with the most appropriate no win no fee solicitor for your case and they will talk you through each stage of the claims process in plain English, without using complicated legal jargon. They will also be at hand to offer you free legal advice and will fight to get you the most compensation available for your personal injuries.
We can offer you all this and more and we will not charge you a penny for costs or fees at any time, no matter what the outcome of your personal injury compensation claim.
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To make a no win no fee accident claim under the representation of one of our expert personal injury solicitors today either fill out an online claim form with your details or give us a call for free on 0800 197 32 32.
