THE Health and Safety Executive has confirmed it is investigating the death of a 64-year-old man at a farm in the Borders.

A body was found at Heriot Hill Farm, Heriot, at around 1.20am on Tuesday, August 12.

Police have confirmed the death is being treated as a workplace accident.

It is the second death on a farm in the Borders in the same month.

On August 1, an 18-year-old worker died after falling into a 50ft-high silo at at Deanfoot Farm, near the village of Denholm.

Earlier this month, a new safety campaign was launched to cut fatalities and serious injuries on farms and crofts. In the last 10 years nearly 80 people have died on farmland and dozens more have suffered serious injuries while working.

Since 2010, agriculture has been the most dangerous industry in the Britain, based on fatalities per worker.

Now a partnership has been launched urging greater safety on the land. It brings together the National Farmers Union (NFU) Scotland, insurance company NFU Mutual, the Health and Safety Executive and the Scottish Government.

The Farm Safety Scotland Partnership has produced a campaign leaflet, Working Together to Save Lives, which outlines the four most common dangers on farms - Falls, Animals, Transport and Equipment - and urges farmers and crofters not to leave their safety to fate.

Commenting on the latest death, a Police Scotland spokesman said: "Police in the Scottish Borders responded to an incident at the Heriot Hill Farm, Heriot at around 1.20am on Tuesday 12th August where the body of a 64-year-old male industrial worker was found.

"Officers are liaising with the Health and Safety Executive during this enquiry."

Two inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive, which is responsible for investigating accidents at work, visited the farm yesterday (Tuesday).

A spokesperson said: "We are investigating alongside police who are taking the lead in the investigation."