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Safety in agriculture concerns everyone  Every year, in EU countries alone, there are numerous fatal farm accidents, the majority of which relating to the use of machinery. Unfortunately, even though agriculture is one of the sectors having the largest number of serious injuries in the Community, the media seldom cover such accidents, which also involve women and children.
The GAS Forum promotes Safety Saves, an international awareness building campaign centring on safety in agriculture. Work areas
The safety of disabled persons
| - In Italy 443,680 disabled persons work in agriculture (ISTAT 2004-05).
- 29% of modified tractors are supplied directly by tractor dealers, 29% by specialist workshops and 42% are modified by the vehicle owner (AMADI 2005).
| The safety of women
| - In 2005 there were 232,224 reported cases of agricultural injuries in Europe. Of these 50,047 were women (Eurostat 2005).
- 29.3% of Italian agricultural holdings are run by women (Unioncamere 2008).
| The safety of immigrants
| - The number of immigrants employed in agriculture has risen five-fold in recent years.
- 65% of immigrants that do seasonal work in agriculture live in derelict housing, 21% share their own mattress with other people, 62% do not have a lavatory at their disposal, 64% do not have access to running water (Medici Senza Frontiere, 2007).
| Occupational diseases 
| - Reported cases of occupational diseases in the agricultural sector were 40% up in 2007 compared with 2003, and 14% up on 2006 (INAIL 2008).
- Among farmworkers deafness is one of the most common ailments (INAIL 2008).
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We need your help. Take part in the Safety Saves campaign and help us to save lives. To join: write to secretariat of GAS Forum
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