Increase in Work-Related Fatalities in VA Farming Accidents | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

What happened:

The Luray Page Free Press is reporting that there were ten deaths from work-related farm accidents in Virginia in 2012, an increase of three from 2011.

The Virginia Farm Bureau’s unofficial statistics breaks the causes of death down as follows:

  • Four deaths from tractor runovers.
  • Three deaths were from unspecified tractor or equipment incidents.
  • One death from a tractor overturn.
  • One death from an all-terrain vehicle overturn.
  • One death from an animal-related incident.

In an interview, Farm Bureau Safety Manager Jimmy Maass stressed how important it was to make tractor and equipment safety a priority. For the past 18 years, deaths resulting from tractor incidents have accounted for the majority of farm accident fatalities. “Eighty percent of the fatalities this year resulted from tractor- or equipment-related accidents, so there is still a lot of room for improvement when operating a tractor or any farm machinery,” said Maass. “When working on the farm, it is so important to take a few extra minutes to make sure you are operating or working as safely as possible. Being cautious will save you so much more in the long run.”

 

Virginia Injury Lawyer Perspective:  

The Farm Bureau also reports that since 1994, 107 people have died when their tractors overturned; 61 were involved in unspecified tractor or equipment mishaps; and 49 were run over by tractors or other farm equipment. The remaining 61 fatalities were attributed to operating farm equipment on public roads and to incidents involving animals or ATVs.

Worker safety in the farm or any other industry should always be a priority. If you have been injured at work, contact a Virginia personal injury attorney to find out what compensation you may be entitled to.

 

Virginia Farm Bureau, Mattaponi, VA


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