A SHARP rise in the number of people killed or seriously injured on British farms has wiped out previously achieved safety gains.

New Health and Safety Executive figures show that between April 2009 and March 2010, the number of reported major injuries, such as broken bones or amputations, rose to 640, up from 599 the previous year.

The number of major injuries has now increased by more than 40 per cent in the last three years.

In June, it was announced that 38 people died as a result of work on farms last year - up from 25 twelve months ago and above the average of 37 for the previous five years. With a rate of fatal injuries to workers in 2009/10 of eight per 100,000, agriculture remains Britain’s most dangerous industry.

Sandy Blair, HSE’s board champion for agriculture, said: “The agricultural community has responded magnificently to our Make the Promise campaign to improve safety in farming and we’ve seen everyone from industry leaders to individual farmers getting behind the initiative.

“But these figures show the reality of what we are dealing with. Deaths have returned to previous levels and serious injuries are still steadily increasing.”

He added: “This isn’t about statistics, it is about the farming community itself being able to take action to prevent these serious, life-changing or life-ending injuries. Each death or injury leaves a trail of misery and suffering for individuals and farming families. It’s more important than ever that we work together to get this right.”