An appeal for businesses to make the wellbeing of workers their top priority this year has been given by safety bosses.

The plea by the Health and Safety Executive comes after West Dorset farm worker Keith Baldwin, 50, died when the JCB he was driving plunged into a slurry pit on September 11 last year.

Mr Baldwin was moving heavy slurry from one pit to another on Westcombe Farm in Hooke when the accident happened.

Two tractors were used to drag the almost completely submerged vehicle out.

HSE, which is marking its 40 anniversary this year, has revealed new figures showing that 139 people in West Dorset – and 920 people across the county – suffered an injury while at work in 2013/14.

That compares to 143 injuries the previous year in West Dorset, and 944 across the county.

There were no West Dorset fatalities listed in the statistics for 2013/2014, as Mr Baldwin’s death will be registered in the 2014/2015 year figures.

HSE was formally established in January, 1975, and in 1974/75 a total of 651 employees alone were killed, without including self-employed workers whose deaths were not recorded in the same way.

This year, employers across West Dorset are being urged to review whether they can do more to protect their workforce.

The latest figures show that those involved in construction, manufacturing and waste and recycling are most at risk, with agriculture another industry where sustained improvement is needed. Harvey Wild, HSE head of operations for the South West, said: “The families of the workers in Dorset who sadly lost their lives last year have just had to spend the festive period without their loved ones, while hundreds of other workers were made ill through their work or had their lives changed forever by a major injury.

“The figures offer encouragement that we are continuing to head in the right direction, but they also show that we can still go further and challenge the industries where there is room to do more.

“Workplace conditions have improved dramatically in the past four decades, but as employers plan and prepare for the new financial year they need to ensure that health, safety and welfare is a clear focus.”

Statistics also reveal the scale of workplace illness.

Across West Dorset 2,400 people were estimated to have been made ill through their work over 2013/2014.

Information on tackling health and safety dangers in workplaces is available at hse.gov.uk

HOW THE FIGURES COMPARE

WEST DORSET
2013-2014 fatalities: 0
2013-2014 injuries: 139
2013-2014 work-related illness: 2,400
2012-2013 fatalities: 0
2012-2013 injuries: 143

WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND
2013-2014 fatalities: 0
2013-2014 injuries: 67
2012-2013 work-related illness: 1,400
2012-2013 fatalities: 0
2012-2013 injuries: 90

DORSET AS A WHOLE
2013-2014 fatalities: 0
2013-2014 injuries: 920
2012-2013 work-related illness: 17,500
2012-2013 fatalities: 1
2012-2013 injuries: 944

NEW NFU SAFETY CAMPAIGN

JENNIE Greenwood, West Dorset NFU branch secretary for 2015, pictured, backed the HSE plea and said agriculture and farming is now the most dangerous profession to be in.

She added: “We did sadly have one fatality, one serious incident and a number of more minor accidents reported last year in West Dorset.

“Our farmers and members work hard and often alone and this can cause problems if they are involved in an incident. The HSE are focusing on farmers as it is now the number one cause of work- place accidents in the country.

“This takes the form of information days provided by HSE and increased spot inspections on farms, which can include some hefty charges for their time if they find problems.

“There are a number of common failures which can easily be rectified such as having unguarded PTO shafts on machinery.

“We would encourage our farmers to take a look around their farms and make sure they are as safe as they can be.”

There is also a new NFU safety awareness campaign, lead by the image of yellow wellies, asking farmers the question: ‘Who will fill your boots?’ in the event of an accident or death.

The NFU hope to see a noticeable clear reduction in accidents and deaths over the five-year period of the campaign.

Tim Price, NFU press officer, said if farmers work alone and then have an accident there’s no one there to help them or get medical assistance.

He added: “It’s very important that these farmers in West Dorset work safely, carry a mobile phone and tell others where they will be working.”

For more visit nfuonline.com