Labour’s Rural Affairs spokesperson, Joyce Watson AM is backing a campaign to raise awareness of the high number of deaths on Welsh Farms.Joyce joined Unite the Union and members of the public outside the National Assembly for Wales to mark Workers Memorial Day. A day to ‘mourn the dead - fight for the living’.
Figures from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) show that farm workers in particular face one of the highest rates of death and serious injury of any industry in Great Britain.
Statistics show that for those working in the agricultural industry for 20 years, there is a 1 in 568 risk that they will die of an accident at work. Over the last 10 years, 455 people have been killed on British farms.
Speaking after the event, Joyce said:
“Workers Memorial Day commemorates those workers that have lost their lives at work. It is a day to remember the dead and fight for the living.
“It is clear that agriculture in particular has one of the highest rates of deaths of any industry in Great Britain. A higher rate than in construction or manufacturing, which many will agree are widely recognised as being potentially dangerous industries.
“Whilst in most other industries deaths are decreasing, in farming numbers have remained steady over recent years. These are preventable deaths, and in most cases are as a result of poorly maintained machinery, lack of precautions in the cases of falls or equipment used incorrectly.”
Those killed or injured include employees, the self-employed, voluntary workers, children and members of the public. In the case of children, over the last 10 years, 43 children under the age of 18 have been killed during agricultural work activities.
The 3 main causes of death over the past 10 years have been the result of transport (24%), such as poorly maintained tractor handbrakes; falls from height, in particular roofs (17%); and being struck by moving or falling objects (15%).
Joyce added:
“I have raised concerns on the safety of farm workers and the low number of prosecutions in the past in Plenary to the Minister for Rural Affairs. We need to all continue our campaign to protect lives from being lost and to prevent the devastation that is caused to the lives of loved ones left behind”
While agriculture employs less than 1.5% of the working population it accounts for 15% to 20% of all worker deaths in Britain each year.
Ends
Image Caption (left to right): Martin Mansfield, General Secretary, Wales TUC; Joyce Watson AM.
Further Information:
Worker’s Memorial Day is held on 28 April every year, to commemorate the many thousands of people who have died, been seriously injured or made ill through their work. All over the world workers and their representatives conduct events, demonstrations, vigils and host other activities to mark the day.
More information on Worker’s Memorial Day can be found at: http://www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/index.cfm?mins=293
A copy of the Plenary transcript of the 18th November 2009 referred to above can be found at: http://www.assemblywales.org/bus-home/bus-chamber/bus-chamber-third-assembly-rop.htm?act=dis&id=153281&ds=11/2009
