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Farmers should start thinking like pilots in order to improve safety in the industry, researchers have said.
Farmers should start thinking like pilots in order to improve safety in the industry, researchers have said.
Recent statistics showed that workers in agriculture were seven times more likely to die than those on a construction site.
After five years of research with farmers, University of Aberdeen psychologist Dr Amy Irwin said lessons could be learned from other industries.
She said changing a few key behaviours could make farming safer.
Check-list suggestions include surroundings – such as being aware of the location of power lines – and tractor safety measures, as well as having a first aid kit.
A number of aviation accidents in the 1970s led to researchers noting that while pilots were fully-trained and competent to fly, they could become complacent, or distracted, and make poor decisions as a result.
Dr Irwin said of farming: “Most of the accidents involve things like being ent
Dr Irwin cited paramedics and surgeons as other professions using similar techniques including check-lists.
She said: “In aviation and a lot of other high-risk industries they have training for all of these skills, farming has nothing, and we’re looking to change that.
“So by just changing a few behaviours, we can hopefully make farmers safer, and more effective.”
angled in machinery, knocked over by a vehicle, trampled by a cow, and so it’s a really hazardous industry to be part of.”
She believes a lead can be taken from other industries – aviation being deemed as the key one – to have an understanding of how areas such as teamwork, leadership and situation awareness can be crucial.