The number of fatal accidents at work in agriculture has decreased
In 2017, the Occupational Safety Department of the Ministry of Finance launched a two-year national occupational safety campaign entitled „Focus on agriculture – safety at work first.” The main objective of the campaign was to draw the attention of employers, employees, and professionals working in the sector to safe working practices.
In 2016, there were 18 fatal accidents in the agricultural sector. The results of the targeted occupational safety campaign were already evident in the 2017 data. The number of fatal accidents in the sector fell from 18 to 12 in one year, while the number of employees continued to grow. According to data for 2018, the sector's accident indicators continued to improve. In 2018, the number of fatal accidents fell to 10.
During the campaign, the number of work accidents resulting in more than three days of sick leave also decreased steadily. In 2016, there were 837 work accidents resulting in sick leave, in 2017 there were 654, and in 2018 there were 626.
Although the two-year campaign has come to an end, the occupational safety authority continues to treat agriculture as a high-risk sector, and inspections will continue to focus on eliminating deficiencies. The protection of human life and safe working conditions must be a priority for everyone involved in the sector.
