The trade union released new figures last weekend to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day, which showed there were 27 deaths in agriculture last year and in the last five years, there have been 122 fatal road traffic accidents involving farming vehicles.
Unite claims, despite these figures, the Government has failed to take the necessary steps to improve agricultural vehicle safety.
For example, it said the Department for Transport decided last year not to require tractors to have an MOT certificate to prove their roadworthiness.
The trade union also warned the rules around who can drive a tractor are “lax”.
A 13-year old is allowed to legally drive a tractor on private land, while a 16-year old can take a driving test and drive a tractor with a trailer attached on the open road.
A Freedom of Information request by the trade union has also revealed that in 2016/17, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) made just 403 unannounced inspections at farms and agricultural workplaces.
And in the last five years, the HSE has prosecuted just one agricultural employer for breaking safety laws.
“Urgent action is needed to ensure that agricultural workers are not killed, maimed or injured at work,” said Unite’s acting national officer for agriculture, Joe Clarke.
“Deaths and injuries should not be considered as an occupational hazard of the farming industry,” added Mr Clarke.
“Farm safety will not be significantly improved until there is a dramatic overhaul of agricultural safety laws, backed up by an effective enforcement regime.
“Farmers who are prepared to break safety laws, are highly unlikely to mend their ways, as they know they are unlikely ever to be inspected and even if they are, the chances of being prosecuted are highly remote,” he added.
