Concerns raised over fatal farming accidents in Northern Ireland
13/08/2012
Workplace injury specialists at Irwin Mitchell have revealed their concerns over claims that there has been an unprecedented increase in the number of deaths as a result of farming accidents in Northern Ireland.
Speaking to the BBC, Jim King of the Health and Safety Executive said that the agricultural sector is facing its “worst period” for fatalities on farms in memory and warned that the increase is currently unexplained.
It is thought that 20 people have died in the past 19 months as result of such work accidents, with the news coming as an investigation was launched into the death of a farmer killed in a slurry accident in County Down.
Irwin Mitchell’s specialist accident at work claims team act for people across the UK who have suffered serious injuries as a result of farming accidents, as well as the families of those killed in such incidents.
Sally Rissbrook, a lawyer with vast expertise in workplace injury cases, said: “Along with the construction industry, the farming sector is widely recognised as one of the most dangerous industries to work in.
“Raising awareness of safety in the sector has been a major priority across the UK for some time and it is clear from these latest figures from Northern Ireland that further work is needed to improve standards in relation to this area.
“It is vital that every possible effort is made to ensure that safety standards are in place which will then mean that deaths can be avoided in the first place.”
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