OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS AS A RISK FACTOR IN AGRICULTURE

Abstract

Risk is one of the fundamental concepts analyzed in economics and constitutes an inherent element of economic activity. In practice, particular importance is attached to the risk of occupational accidents, which may result in loss of life, injury, deterioration of health, and reduced ability of farmers to achieve their economic objectives. The main objective of this study was to assess changes in the level and structure of occupational accidents in agriculture in Poland between 2014 and 2024, taking into account the type of accident, farm size, and agricultural production profile. The study covered all occupational accidents registered by the Agricultural Social Insurance Fund (KRUS) during the eleven-year study period (2014-2024). The source material was based on a review of the relevant literature and unpublished secondary data obtained from KRUS. The collected data were analyzed using trend analysis. The results confirmed a long-term downward trend in the number of occupational accidents in agriculture. Despite favourable quantitative changes, the structure of accidents by event category remained relatively stable. Falls of persons constituted the dominant category throughout the analyzed period. These findings indicate that preventive measures should focus more strongly on reducing the risk of falls during agricultural work. The results also demonstrate that the structure of occupational accidents varies with farm size and indicate that the smallest farms require particular support in improving occupational safety. The study contributes to filling the research gap regarding long-term trends in occupational accidents in agriculture.