Number of serious accidents in sector remains high

Last year, the agricultural and green sector was in third place in the list of sectors with the most serious accidents or fatalities. This figure will remain particularly high this year, as Platform Zero Accidents shows. Most accidents still happen with a machine.

This year there have been 6 accidents (with 7 fatalities) in the agricultural and green sector so far. Most of the accidents in the sector happen with machines: about 57% of the fatal accidents in the past 10 years have happened on or near machines. A total of 82 fatal accidents occurred during that period, which is an average of 8 per year. Of the 7 fatalities this year, 3 were machine accidents.

Operate, fix or clean
The research shows that most accidents occur while operating, clearing malfunctions/blockages and cleaning a machine. The most serious accidents often occur with tractors, forklifts, harvesters, excavators, telehandlers and shovels. This most often goes wrong with the movable parts of the machine. This is because the shielding, the emergency stop or the protection against unwanted start-up is missing. In most cases, someone is crushed, crushed or run over. In non-fatal accidents, victims often lose an arm or leg.

In order to create awareness, the 'Safe at 1' week is being organized this week, an initiative of Platform Zero Accidents (in which LTO Nederland, Cumela, Nevedi and Fedecom, among others, participate). "Working safely with machines starts with awareness", says Wim van den Boomen of LTO Nederland. "You have to be aware of how often you don't do something completely safe 'just as quickly'. Every accident is one too many. And don't forget the suffering it entails."

Jeroen Brandenburg, on behalf of FNV employee chairperson of Stigas, shares this opinion: "If anything is wrong with a machine, you will not work with it. There can and should be no discussion about it. If everyone in the If the sector adheres to this from now on, the number of accidents involving machines will hopefully have fallen drastically next year. It is a matter of just doing it." 

Kimberly Baker

Kimberly Bakker is an all-round editor at Boerenbusiness. She also has an eye for the social media channels of Boerenbusiness.

k.baker @boerenbusiness. Nl

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