At least 42 people were killed in a work-related accident in the Swiss agriculture sector in 2018, with most accidents occurring during the operation of farm machinery and vehicles.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/cl
The figure, reported in an articleExternal link (in German) published this week by the agricultural information service (LID), represents 19 more deaths than in 2017. Reasons for the increase are unclear and must be analysed, according to Dominique Thiévent of the Counseling Center for Accident Prevention in Agriculture (BUL).
Since 1996, nearly 1,000 people have been killed in a work-related accident in Swiss agriculture. However, as there is no obligation to report these accidents, the figures could be much higher. More than half of fatal accidents (57%) took place during the operation of machines and vehicles.
The BUL will act to counter this phenomenon next year via a working group that will meet for the first time in January. The group will focus on preventing accidents, especially through the use of seat belts during agricultural work.
According to Thiévent, many farmers believe that it is better not to be attached to a machine or vehicle, so they can jump off of it more easily. But, “the many tragic accidents show that this is bad reasoning”, Thiévent said.
New tractors on the market have only been required to be equipped with seat belts starting in 2018. But wearing a belt is only mandatory when driving on the roads or over 25 kilometres per hour (15.5 mph). Thiévent recommends also equipping older vehicles with belts, as well as buckling up even in fields and at slow speeds.
More
More
Fatal traffic accidents in Switzerland at record low
This content was published on
The number of deaths in road, railway and air traffic accidents across Switzerland is the lowest in nearly 80 years.
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
Mandatory bike helmet advocates face uphill battle
This content was published on
“I support mandatory bicycle helmets for everyone,” Reto Babst, head of trauma surgery at the Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne, told swissinfo.ch. “I see so many accidents with bikes – even normal bikes, not just e-bikes – where people haven’t worn a helmet.” Every year around 900 people are seriously injured on bicycles in Switzerland, with…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.