Every year, on average, just more than 370 people are injured on the job at agricultural and horticultural companies in Flanders, Belgium. Most (81%) do not have lasting implications, but every few years, there is a fatality.
In 2020, 380 accidents were reported in that region. That is slightly down from 2019, according to the Flanders Agricultural and FIsheries Department website. It bases these figures on those from the Federal Agency for Occupational Risks (FEDRIS).
Of the accidents in 2020, 126 were not serious, and in 173 cases, the worker was temporarily disabled. However, in 80 cases, the injured party is unable to return to work for good. And unfortunately, one person died on the job.
These are only accidents concerning permanent staff. These figures do not include incidents involving managers or seasonal workers.
Number of injuries on the job per consequence. (Blue) No consequence, (Magenta) Temporary disability, (Green) Permanent disability, (Brown) Death.
Number of injuries per reason (from top to bottom). 1. Electrical failure, explosion, fire; 2. Overflowing, overturning, leakage, emptying, evaporation; 3. Breakage, bursting, slipping, falling, object collapsing; 4. Losing control of machine, method of transport, tool, object, animal; 5. Slipping or stumbling and falling, person falling; 6. Body movement without physical strain (external injury); 7. Body movement with or without physical strain (internal injury); 8. Surprise, shock, violence, aggression, threat present; 99. Other unusual events; other; unknown