In our previous article we talked about how the level of injuries in the farming and the agricultural industry continue to make it one of the most dangerous industries in which to work, accounting for over half of the total number of fatal accidents globally. Below we take a look at some of the most common causes of farm accidents:
Accidents Involving Farm Vehicles
These types of farm accidents are all too common and can result in injuries ranging from whiplash & broken bones to loss of life. These can occur as a result of farm vehicles such as ploughs, combine harvesters, forklift trucks or tractors colliding with each other or buildings, running over individuals or overturning.
Falls from Heights
It is imperative that risks assessments are carried out and people correctly trained before working at elevated areas such as trees, roofs, cherry pickers or ladders.
Accidents Involving Falling Objects
Objects falling such as trees, timber, bales of hay or even collapsing buildings can all pose a threat to nearby farm workers.
Accidents Involving Farm Machinery
Machinery that is exposed, poorly maintained or where insufficient training and / or personal protective equipment (PPE) is supplied can all contribute to the risk of a farming accident.
Injuries or Illnesses Caused by Dangerous Substances
Farms often have chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides which can become dangerous if correct training and equipment (PPE) are not provided.
Older farm buildings may also contain asbestos and so it’s important to have the correct checks carried out before repairing or these knocking down.
Injuries Caused by Dangerous Livestock
Working with farm animals can cause serious injuries to staff, especially cattle due to their size and weight. Dangerous livestock account for 8% of all farm accident related deaths.
Other farming accident related injuries can include:
• Loss of hearing or tinnitus due to lack of ear defenders (see hearing post)
• Asthma and / or Dermatitis due to harmful fumes in grain silos and slurry pits
• Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) due to incorrect or prolonged use of vibrating farm tools (see HAVS post)
Some farm work may mean working, to a degree, in dangerous or hazardous conditions, it is therefore of the upmost importance that Health and Safety procedures are followed and correct training & equipment be provided. If this has been neglected and, as a result one of the above injuries has occurred, then the worker may be entitled to make a farm accident compensation claim. These claims can be made by visitors to the farm as well as workers.
We Can Help
If you feel you have a personal injury claim as a result of a farming accident, or are unsure and would like to talk your situation through then get in contact. Our friendly specialist advisors can talk to you about your situation and see if you have a valid claim. There is no charge for this service and you are under no obligation to claim with us.
If You Have a Genuine Claim, Contact a Genuine Company
May I Claim, is a trading name of R Costings Limited and our CRM number is 25770
If you’ve had an accident that wasn’t your fault and suffered an injury - you can trust us to handle your claim professionally.
Call us now on 0800 756 7774 and talk to us to find out if you have a claim - or fill in our Quick Claim form (on the right of this page).
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