Italy agricultural groups propose safety plan to reduce machinery fatalities

Agricultural associations in Italy are calling for an urgent structural safety plan following data showing an average of over 130 deaths per year in the agricultural sector. According to Federacma, nearly three-quarters of these fatalities are caused by the overturning or crushing of machinery.

Reports presented to the CNEL indicate that Italy's agricultural machinery fleet is among the oldest in the EU, with an average age of nearly 30 years. Out of approximately 2.15 million tractors in circulation, roughly 1.2 million lack integrated seat belts and 670,000 lack anti-rollover systems.

To address these risks, Federacma has proposed a structural investment plan totaling 350 million euros over five years for scrapping obsolete equipment, alongside 25 million euros annually for modernizing recoverable machinery. COPAGRI President Tommaso Battista emphasized the need to overcome political stagnation regarding machinery inspections to improve worker safety and environmental sustainability.