Main Industry SIC Code: Agriculture, forestry and fishing
Source: https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/tables/index.htm#riddor
The data on fatal injuries to workers in the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors presents a concerning yet insightful trend over the past five years. The numbers reveal fluctuations that can be attributed to various factors, including external events such as the coronavirus pandemic.
In the period from 2019/20 to 2023/24, the number of fatal injuries to workers in these sectors has varied significantly. Starting with 21 fatalities in 2019/20, the number spiked to 34 in 2020/21, marking an increase of 13 fatalities. This sharp rise can be partly explained by the pandemic’s impact, which disrupted normal operations and possibly affected safety measures and practices. The subsequent year, 2021/22, saw a decrease to 23 fatalities, a reduction of 11 from the previous year, indicating a partial return to pre-pandemic conditions or improvements in safety protocols.
Interestingly, the number of fatalities returned to 21 in 2022/23, aligning with the figures from 2019/20. However, in 2023/24, there was a slight increase to 23 fatalities. This fluctuation suggests that while there may have been improvements or stabilizations in some areas, challenges remain in maintaining consistent safety standards across these industries.
It’s crucial to note that these figures include both employees and self-employed individuals, reflecting the broad scope of the workforce in these sectors. The pandemic’s influence is evident, particularly in 2020/21 and to a lesser extent in 2021/22, where temporary employment schemes like furlough may have disrupted normal employment patterns and contributed to discontinuities in injury rates.
Overall, these statistics highlight the ongoing need for stringent safety measures and continuous monitoring to protect workers in agriculture, forestry, and fishing. The data serves as a reminder of the inherent risks in these industries and the importance of adapting safety practices to meet evolving challenges.
Workers Fatally Injured | Period | Change |
---|---|---|
21 | 2019/20 | |
34 | 2020/21 | +13 |
23 | 2021/22 | -11 |
21 | 2022/23 | -2 |
23 | 2023/24 | +2 |
Workers include both employees and self-employed.
Numbers for 2020/21 and to a lesser extent 2021/22 are affected by the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. While 2019/20 falls largely outside of the pandemic period, disruption in early 2020 may be a contributory factor to changes in data in 2019/20. This should be considered when comparing across time periods.
The employment data used to calculate rates includes those temporarily absent from work. In 2020/21 and (to a lesser extent) in 2021/22 the number of such workers was higher than previous years due to temporary employment schemes (e.g. furlough) introduced during the coronavirus pandemic. This has contributed to a discontinuity in injury rates.