Cumbrian farm death inquests spark ‘safety week’ reflections

Agriculture, forestry and fishing have consistently recorded the highest work-related death rates in the last five years, figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show.

Workers in those three sectors were seven times more likely to be killed while at their job, according to the Farm Safety Foundation, with 22 such deaths recorded by HSE in the last financial year alone.

One of the foundation’s initiatives involves 11-year-old Erin Thompson from Lamplugh who has compiled an illustrated book to educate children about risks on farms.

The Girl in the Yellow Wellies is inspired by warnings Erin receives when visiting her grandparents farm across the road from her house.

“Animals can charge at you and you can climb on bales and fall from heights, fall into the water, get run over by a tractor,” Erin said, adding the book had been useful to her cousins when visiting the family farm.

“[My message] would be just to watch out when you’re out and about so you don’t get hurt.”

Her mum Laura, whose family have farmed for generations, said there could be a bit of a “won’t happen to me” attitude in the industry.

“It is getting the message out there as adults are reading the book to the children, so it’s changing mindsets and culture across generations,” she said.

Coroner Robert Cohen, who presided over Sowerby’s inquest earlier this week, told the hearing farming was “by definition a dangerous and difficult task”.

He said: “In what is now I’m told Farm Safety Week, it’s appropriate to simply say I hope all those working in farming take care of themselves and look after themselves.”

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