In 2015, 338 persons were killed in farm-work related accidents, 12 fatalities less than the previous year, a survey conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) revealed on February 6.
The fatal accidents during farm works have fallen to an all-time low since the MAFF’s survey started in 1971.
A fatality ratio of farm-work related accidents, however, increased to 16.1 deaths per 100,000 farming population in 2015, hitting the worst record in Japan.
The fatality ratio in 2005 was 11.8 deaths, rising by 4.3 points during the ten years.
The MAFF’s survey clearly showed that safety measures had not been fully implemented among farmers and their family members.
It is a serious problem that a number of aged farmers increasingly died in farm-work related accidents.
The those fatal accidents of farmers over the age of 80 reached 158 cases in 2015, 13 cases more than the previous year, occupying 46.7 percent in the total of such accidents.
In the same year, 284 farmers over the age of 65 were killed in farm-work related accidents, who account for as much as 84.0 percent.
MAFF has been taking leadership in appealing for farmers and their family members to take necessary measures against the farm work accidents.
“Our message is not fully reaching to farmers,” MAFF officials said and pledged to promote the farm safety education calling attention of farmers against accidents on farms.