A MAN crushed by a log splitting machine was among the forestry fatalities recorded in new annual figures. 

Two chainsaw operators, killed by trees, also lost their lives as a result of work-related accidents in the sector between April 2021 and March 2022, taking the total to three. That's according to the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) 'Summary of fatal injuries in agriculture, forestry and fishing in Great Britain', which was published this week. 

READ MORE: Forestry among highest rate of deaths from work-related accidents in the UK

It means forestry accounted for just 13 per cent of the 22 workers who died across the industries - which are grouped together by the HSE - during the time period. Farming made up the majority. 

As we have told previously, the three sectors recorded the highest rate of deaths per 100,000 workers in those 12 months - eight times that of second-ranked construction.

Sue Thompson, head of agriculture, HSE, said: “The numbers of fatalities this year is lower than last, and we are starting to see improvements in some areas, but the pace of change is slow, and the rate of workplace fatal injury in agriculture remains the highest of any sector.

“Agriculture is a vital part of our economy, and everyone involved is rightly proud of the quality and standard of the food produced.

“But it is not acceptable that agriculture continues to fail to manage risk in the workplace.

"We need everyone to play their part to improve the culture and modify the poor behaviours we see far too frequently. I encourage everyone to do things the right way and have the courage to ‘call out’ poor practices whenever they are seen." 

The provisional figures for 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 show 25 people were killed in agriculture-related activities, 22 workers and three members of the public.

The total of 25 is 16 fewer than the previous year and seven fewer than the five-year average. The oldest farmer killed in the most recent year was 85, the youngest person killed was a nine-year-old child.

Although, the number of fatal injuries to workers in the agricultural sector has fallen by around half since the early 1980s,  the rate of fatalities, which is based on the number of people at work in the sector, has remained high. The worker fatal injury rate is 21 times higher than the average five-year annual rate across all industries.

Sue  added: “Agriculture will continue to be a priority sector for HSE. We are committed to making workplaces safer and holding employers to account for their actions, as part of our mission to protect people and places." 

The full report can be viewed on the HSE website.