Thompsons Solicitors Senior Partner in Aberdeen, Chris Gordon has warned farm workers to be more safety conscious after a man was killed on a Turriff farm after apparently being crushed by a forklift truck.

Mr Gordon, who specialises in personal injury and industrial accident cases, highlighted the fact that the farming is now regarded as the most dangerous occupation in the country.

Mr Gordon said: “The Health and Safety Executive has identified farming as its biggest area of concern, because the industry accounted for over one-quarter of the 151 deaths across all UK sectors and regions in 2009/10.

“They say the rate of fatal injuries in the sector in 2009/10 was 8.2 per 100,000 workers, making it the most dangerous industry in which to work.

“Of the 38 agriculture workers who were killed at work, 17 were employees and 21 were self employed. Seven members of the public were also killed in work related accidents in the sector.

“These figures make chilling reading and must act as reminder to everyone who works on farms to be aware of the risks they face, and to do everything they can to adopt safety measures and procedures.”

The victim of the accident at Woodside of Delgaty, near Turriff, was named locally as Neil Bremner, who is believed to be in his 30s.

It is understood he had been working with potatoes in an outbuilding at the farm and was crushed when the forklift overturned.

A police spokesman said: “The Health and Safety Executive has been contacted and our inquiries are still going on.”