Stark new figures launched by the Well being and Security Government to mark Farm Security Week present farming stays the deadliest occupation in Britain, with a poor security document.
In 2024/25, 23 farm employees misplaced their lives on farms throughout Nice Britain, almost half (48%) of whom had been over the age of 65. An additional 5 agricultural employees had been killed over the identical interval in Northern Eire, based on the Well being and Security Government for Northern Eire (HSENI).
The HSE figures present that, along with the 23 farm employees killed, 4 members of the general public misplaced their lives on farms final 12 months in Nice Britain, two of whom had been kids – each in accidents utilizing All-Terrain Autos (ATVs).
Being killed by transferring or overturning automobiles was once more the primary reason behind fatality within the business in 2024/25.
Farming has, for a very long time, held the nation’s worst security document as a occupation within the UK. Over the previous 13 years, a mean of 31 lives have been misplaced on our farms yearly – 27 farm employees and 4 members of the general public, together with kids.
In an business that accounts for 1% of the working inhabitants, farming accounts for almost 20% of all office deaths
There’s some extra optimistic information, nevertheless. The variety of long-term in poor health well being and severe accidents fell to 18,000 in 2024/25, in contrast with a current common of 23,000.
Moreover, based on rural insurer NFU Mutual, the variety of farm accident claims within the UK dropped from 937 in 2023/24 to 894 in 2024/25. Although modest, this decline is a welcome indication that security initiatives and consciousness campaigns could also be beginning to have an effect, based on the Farm Security Basis, which is at present working thirteenth Farm Security Week.
Nevertheless, regardless of the encouraging discount in claims and reported accidents, the causes of farm accidents stay constant and regarding.
Incidents involving transferring automobiles, falls from top, slips and journeys, and trapped physique elements proceed to dominate the statistics. Prior to now 12 months alone, a majority of these accidents value rural insurer NFU Mutual over £48 million.
Farm Security Week
Farm Security Week, the annual awareness-raising marketing campaign run by The Farm Security Basis (Yellow Wellies), brings consideration to the hazards farmers face on daily basis rising meals for the nation.
The inspiration continues to stress that decreasing severe and deadly accidents is just a part of the problem, because it highlights the necessity to handle an underlying tradition of risk-taking and complacency.
Analysis it has carried out revealed that 81% of farmers within the UK consider that ‘complacency’ – at all times having it achieved that manner – is a significant contributor to having a farm accident whereas 82% cite ‘angle’ as the key contributor.
Stephanie Berkeley, Farm Security Basis Supervisor, mentioned: “‘I’ve at all times achieved it that manner’ is a phrase we hear all too usually.
“Though confidence constructed over years on the land is a energy, it will possibly additionally develop into a blind spot. While you begin to underestimate the hazards of the automobiles, tools and animals we all know so properly, we threat letting routine flip lethal. Expertise ought to information warning, not excuse it.
“Through the years we now have seen the attitudes and behaviours round farm security within the UK and Eire beginning to change however the tempo of change is gradual. Too gradual for the households who’ve misplaced family members in preventable accidents. Too gradual for the 1000’s of farmers dwelling on daily basis with power ache, long-term sickness, or life-altering accidents attributable to the very work that sustains our communities. We can’t settle for this as the price of doing enterprise.
“This can be a plea… to everybody working and dwelling within the business: please, cease and mirror. Have a look at your day by day routine, your tools, your mindset. Ask your self, what can I do at the moment to make my farm safer? For myself. For my household. For the individuals who work with me.
“Change doesn’t occur in a single day. It begins with one choice, one motion, one dialog.”
Wayne Owen, HM Inspector of Well being and Security (Agriculture) added: “Farming is an especially vital however tough and difficult job. This basic complacency in the direction of duties, and a poor angle in the direction of preserving individuals secure and wholesome has to vary. The accountability for that change rests with the business itself.
“Farmers really want to place the well being and security of themselves and others on the coronary heart of what they do.”
- For extra data on Farm Security Week go to www.yellowwellies.org or comply with @yellowwelliesUK on Instagram/Fb/X utilizing the hashtag #FarmSafetyWeek
