Organised by the Farm Safety Foundation (also known as Yellow Wellies) Farm Safety Week annually aims to raise awareness of farm safety and to change attitudes and behaviours towards risk-taking in the agriculture sector. 

Farming has the poorest safety record of any occupation in the UK; with a very much higher incidence of life-changing and life-ending accidents compared to other employment sectors. This pattern is not unique to the UK either. The International Labour Office reports that agriculture employs half of the world’s workforce but is one of the most hazardous sectors, along with construction and mining. 

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Safety in the agriculture sector

In the year April 2022 to March 2023, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recorded 27 deaths in agriculture related activities in Britain. That included 21 workers and 6 members of the public, including one child. 

Whilst total numbers of workers being fatally injured has reduced over the last few decades, the rate (ie number of fatalities compared to the number of people working in the sector) has remained concerningly high. While farming employs around 1% of the UK’s working population, it accounts for 16% of all workplace deaths.

Since the COVID pandemic, more members of the public have been regularly accessing countryside areas and this has led to increased safety concerns too. So, farm safety matters and it matters to farmers, to their families, to farm employees and to the general public.

Causes of farm accidents

The five most common causes of work-related death in agriculture are:

  • Being struck by a moving vehicle (the most common cause) 
  • Being crushed or trampled by animals, usually cattle.
  • Falling from a height
  • Coming into contact with machinery, during operation or maintenance
  • Being struck by an object, such as bales or trees

Contact with electricity, drowning or asphyxiation also feature as causes of deaths on farms. And there are many more situations that may results in life changing injuries. But whether you are an employee of a large farming enterprise, working alone on a smaller family farm, or have a croft or smallholding to attend to, operating machinery and working with livestock will always be part of the job. So, how can we reduce risks in these situations and improve farm safety for all involved?

Take 5 To Stay Alive!

Alongside Farm Safety Week, the National Farmers Union (NFU) encourages us all to “Take 5 To Stay Alive”. A day on the farm can be hectic and usually involves many different and varied tasks, some so familiar that we just do them how we’ve always done, and some new challenges that we’ve never tackled before (and often didn’t expect to be tackling that day either!).

Taking 5 minutes… or even 5 seconds to pause first and consider what we’re about to do can make all the difference in reducing risk and preventing life changing accidents. We’re not talking about devising a whole new livestock handling system here! Just considering finding an extra gate to secure an area; waiting until help is available when working at a height; or even remembering to pop a seatbelt on when nipping down the road to check the far away field… Small changes can save a life.

Working with vehicles

As a main cause of accidents in agricultural settings, careful consideration must be given to how we use vehicles on the farm. What is appropriate or necessary on one farm or smallholding may not be so on the next. So it’s worth thinking about how your farm works; who is on the farm; and if there are any specific situations you can identify that could be improved.

  1. Ensure a Safe Stop especially when carrying out vehicle maintenance:
    1. Engage handbrake
    2. Controls in neutral
    3. Switch off engine / power
    4. Remove key / lock off power supply
  2. Maintain Safe Vehicles, equipment and machinery that are suitable and capable of the work. Carry out regular frequent maintenance and make repairs promptly.
  3. Safe Driver – ensure drivers are medically fit and properly trained. Prevent access by unauthorised persons including children.
  4. Create a Safe Site by separating vehicle and pedestrian (and public access!) areas where possible and maintaining clear signage and good lighting. Structuring vehicle routes to minimise reversing will also reduce the risk to pedestrians and other vehicle users. 

Working with livestock

The risks posed by working with livestock, particularly cattle (due to their size), should not be underestimated, even when sensible precautions are taken. Where possible, people and cattle should be kept apart. When this is not possible, it is important to consider your escape routes. Think Under, Over, Behind or Through.

Tasks should be planned in advance and carried out by animal handlers who understand how to read and respond to livestock behaviours. Working alone with livestock does carry more risk than if two people can be present.

Equipment including handling facilities should be fit for purpose and well maintained. Ideally set up pens such that feed, water and bedding can be supplied without personnel having to enter the pen itself. Use suitable housing and handling facilities that are appropriate for your animals, particularly bulls. Selecting your breeding stock for their good temperament (and removing difficult or unpredictable animals from the farm) will reduce risk when working with livestock

Public access to fields

On many farms there is public access to areas where livestock graze. However, the public may not be aware that the animals are there or may not understand the potential risks they pose. Clear polite signage indicating that animals are grazing in the area and suggesting alternative routes the public can take may be very effective in minimising unwanted human-livestock interaction. Where public access fields must be used, try to avoid putting cows with calves, or dairy bulls there. And consider siting feed troughs and water sources away from public reach.

Yellow Wellies, NFU Mutual and UK farming unions have teamed up to produce free gatepost signs for farms to put up in areas of public access

Get yourself checked

The RSABI (Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution) recently launched their Health Hut initiative; encouraging farmers to use their time at events such as sales and shows to drop in and have a health check from trained nurses who understand the demands of the agricultural industry. Taking action like this or visiting your doctor for a checkup can help to identify any potential issues early and arm you with the information you need to move forward positively in terms of both physical and mental health. The Farmstrong New Zealand website is another fantastic resource packed with information on getting fit, staying healthy and preventing injury. 

With the best will in the world some accidents and illnesses will happen. But throughout the agricultural industry there seems to be a reluctance to admit when we have an injury or aren’t feeling quite well. If you or someone you know is injured or poorly, get things checked out at the doctors and contact RABI/RSABI for support; practical, emotional and financial. Seeking help or advice promptly may prevent minor troubles from becoming long term problems for you and your family to contend with. As Yellow Wellies ask us…who would fill your boots?

Further reading and resources