There are many injuries suffered when working on a farm. This is especially true when it comes to dealing with farm animals.
From livestock to wild animals, farm workers in Scotland face the risk of injury on a regular basis as a result of handling livestock.
Recent findings from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have highlighted the dangers of farm workers interacting with animals. Incidents involving livestock were the number one cause of work-related deaths on British farms in 2022/2023.
There have been many incidents of employees being crushed, kicked, butted, or gored. This risk is especially heightened with animals that have not been handled regularly such as newly calved cows.
All employers in Scotland have a legal responsibility to ensure the health and safety of their employees whilst in the workplace and this includes farmers.
Farmers have legal responsibilities for health and safety in terms of a number of UK Regulations such as the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) . These provisions provide for training on how to handle and interact with animals safely; providing appropriate protective gear such as gloves and working boots and ensuring all employees are trained to perform the tasks required of them.
Such training should include training on proper animal care and handling techniques. In some cases, farm workers may be required to obtain specific licences or certifications to work with certain types of animals.
Farmers are also responsible for conducting thorough risk assessments to identify and mitigate potential hazards which may arise in the agricultural environment. Additionally, farmers are tasked with developing and implementing comprehensive health and safety policies and procedures to ensure a secure working environment for all workers by actively managing risks and implementing appropriate safety measures.
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