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21 Aug 2018
Two farmers killed as agriculture remains the highest-risk sector to work in
Transport continues to be the biggest killer in agriculture, with two more farmers tragically losing their lives this month.
Lauren Dean
Annual figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), published on Wednesday (October 30), found farming is still the highest-risk sector to work in.
Thirty-two farmers or farm workers were killed in 2018-19, while 699 farm employees suffered non-fatal injuries.
HSE chairman Martin Temple said: “These figures should highlight to us all the vital importance of managing risk and promoting behaviours to improve the standard of good health and safety practice in the workplace.”
The yearly update came just days after a 25-year-old man was killed in a farm accident involving machinery.
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Police Scotland said police and emergency services were called to the farm, near Hawick, Scottish Borders, at about 10.50am on Friday (October 25).
The man, named locally as Bryan Thomson, was pronounced dead at the scene.
His employers, J Hepburn & Co, described him as ‘an incredibly hard worker’ who carried out his work to ‘a high standard with plenty of banter along the way’.
Risk
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal.
“Enquiries are currently ongoing in consultation with the Crown Office and Health and Safety Executive (HSE).”
Mr Thomson’s death came just over a week after another man was killed when he was run over by a telehandler in Somerset (October 17).
The HSE said work should be planned to keep people away from moving vehicles.
It added: “All vehicles post a risk, but remember that drivers of loaders, lift trucks and telescopic handlers may have restricted visibility, particularly when reversing or carrying loads.”
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