– Per was careful about safety, say Anne Marie Berge and her son Per Anders Berge at home on the farm in Bygstad in Sunnfjord municipality. When the father of the family drove a tractor on the steep slopes of the farm, which rests beneath the mighty mountain Storehesten and with an airy view of the valley, he never took any chances. Before the silo was to be jammed in the summer, the silo fan was switched on in good time to avoid dangerous gases. But at 62 years old, Per was one of 54 farmers who lost their lives in a work accident in the period 2012–2021. Per was the proud father of May Jeanett, Lars Eirik and Per Anders, as well as grandfather of Thea and Kevin. (on the image). He was also a beloved man in the village. Per was in the annual revue in Bygstad, he drove a taxi and was also active in politics. Photo: private Fall eight meters into a silo It is 13 December 2015. Per Anders is out in the barn cleaning together with his father Per. They will, among other things, move the caravan. The doors on the silo are open so that they have more room to turn the cart. Per Anders stands behind the cart and will pull it towards him. But suddenly no one is pushing, and the father has become so quiet. Per was always careful at home on the farm, says son Per Anders. He believes that most farmers are careful about safety, but that many are in a hurry and have to run fast. Photo: astrid solheim korsvoll / news The 19-year-old steps forward and looks down into the eight-metre high silo. What has happened is unclear. But down there, the father lies badly injured. Then everything happens so fast. Per Anders contacts the emergency services and the mother inside the house. He makes his way down to his father. Per is awake and conscious. He talks to the son. They think it can go well. – He probably didn’t understand, and neither did we. That it wasn’t going to go well, says Anne Marie Berge, Per’s wife. Per dies on this December day, shortly before Christmas. The most dangerous workplace There have been a number of tragic fatal accidents on Norwegian farms so far this year. In May, a farmer died in a tractor accident at Melhus in Trøndelag. This summer, a farmer was found dead in a silo in Vik. The death was investigated as an occupational accident. In September, a man died in a tractor accident in Askvoll. This summer, the Norwegian Occupational Safety and Health Authority sounded the alarm after a number of fatal accidents. In the ten-year period 2012–2021, 471 occupational accidents were additionally reported. The Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority believes that the real figure is higher. – This makes the farming profession the most dangerous profession, says Heidi Blekkan, who is the national coordinator for agriculture and forestry at the Norwegian Labor and Welfare Authority. We have to stop and talk about how busy a farmer is in 2022 and how big a risk it is. That’s what Halle Arnes, subject coordinator HSE in Norwegian Agricultural Advisory, says. Photo: NLR Expenditures for fertiliser, electricity and diesel have skyrocketed in the past year. This means that many farmers run faster than before and therefore save where they can, including on replacements. This worries Halle Arnes, subject coordinator HSE in Norwegian agricultural consultancy. – Many farmers describe their everyday life as being in a hamster wheel where they have no time to stop. It is a risk. Researcher at Ruralis (formerly the Norwegian Center for Rural Research), Brit Logstein, says tougher economic times increase the work pressure on farmers. Ruralis Ruralis – Institute for rural and regional research, is a research foundation that works with interdisciplinary rural studies. Among other things, Ruralis researches agriculture, resource management and interaction between rural and urban areas. – Then the risk of serious accidents also increases. She believes that the number of deaths and accidents speaks for itself, and the statistics show that accidents occur under high work pressure where the farmer takes shortcuts. – It is a clear sign that sufficient work is not being done with safety in agriculture. Reducing the work pressure in Norwegian agriculture is an effective measure to improve safety. Living without Per was very hard. In the period after the accident, the village surrounded the family. – They were fantastic support, says Anne Marie. Photo: astrid solheim korsvoll Must take more breaks Figures from the Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority show that most fatal accidents occur in connection with machines and tractors. After a number of accidents in tractors, there is now a requirement to use seat belts in work situations. – Are the farmers careful enough? – I think so. The farmer knows his farm and knows where the risk is, but I think they could probably be even more aware, says Logstein. Agriculture and Food Minister Sandra Borch says they have a goal of a zero vision for deaths in agriculture. – I am very concerned that there must be continuous work to minimize accidents in agriculture, she says. Life without Per Heime on the farm in Bygstad, life has gotten better, little by little. In the midst of grief, the family had to keep the farm alive. The learning curve was steep for everyone. Anne Marie and Per Anders believe that most farmers know enough about security and take it seriously. – It is probably more about the fact that many are overworked. They sleep too little, work late into the night, and many have several jobs to make ends meet, says Anne Marie. Per Anders had a steep learning curve when his father died in 2015. On top of the heavy grief, there was also a lot to be learned at home on the farm. Photo: astrid solheim korsvoll / news Missing Per is there every day. The humour, the laughter and the good conversations, says son Per Anders. Anne Marie misses laughing so much that her stomach hurts. – I miss everything about Per, she says.
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54 farmers have died in work accidents in the last ten years – news Vestland
