Farm Safety Week returns as data shows agriculture remains UK's deadliest industry

The Farm Safety Foundation — better known as Yellow Wellies — has launched its 14th annual Farm Safety Week, running from 20 to 24 July 2026, as new figures confirm that agricultural workers remain far more likely to die on the job than those in any other major UK industry. The campaign calls on farmers and landowners to fundamentally rethink workplace culture and stop accepting risk as an unavoidable part of the job.

Yet many farms still lack the documented risk assessments and health and safety procedures that UK law requires. A single gap could leave you exposed to enforcement action or preventable accidents. The free Health & Safety Toolkit provides ready-to-use risk assessments, checklists and toolbox talks covering key regulations like the Health & Safety at Work Act and COSHH — all designed for immediate use. Download the free Health & Safety Toolkit

One death is one too many

Data released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) shows that 22 farm workers were killed in England, Scotland and Wales during the 2025/26 period. When members of the public and the wider agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors are included, the total rises to 29 deaths — among them seven members of the public, three of whom were children. Over the past five years, nine children have died in the sector, accounting for 6% of all industry fatalities.

The HSE notes that agricultural workers are seven times more likely to die than those in construction and 21 times more likely than the average across all industries. Older workers are especially vulnerable: individuals over 65 accounted for half of all worker fatalities in 2025/26. The most common causes of death involve moving vehicles, which claimed eight lives in the most recent reporting period, alongside falling objects, falls from height, livestock and machinery.

Life-changing injuries and hidden toll

While fatalities rightly draw attention, the Farm Safety Foundation stressed that injuries do not have to be fatal to be devastating. Approximately 9,000 agricultural workers suffer from work-related ill health, with 67% of those cases attributed to musculoskeletal issues. Over the last five years, the industry has recorded roughly 8,000 non-fatal injuries.

Insurance data from NFU Mutual shows a slight decrease in claims, falling from 894 in 2024/25 to 868 in 2025/26. However, a survey of 408 farmers conducted by the foundation reveals deep anxiety about the consequences of workplace incidents. Among farmers under 40, 49.7% said they fear permanent disability more than death. For respondents over 40, that figure rises to 51.7%. Experts also warned that current heatwaves may increase accident risk due to fatigue and heat stress.

Cross-border and international support

The safety initiative has drawn support from organisations across the British Isles and internationally. In Ireland, the campaign launched with backing from the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA). Minister Niall Collins and IFA President Francie Gorman both urged the farming community to stop taking shortcuts, stating that no task on a farm is worth the risk of a life. The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) also joined the call, noting that there have been 57 farm fatalities in Northern Ireland over the last decade.

In Australia, National Farm Safety Week runs from 19 to 25 July 2026 under the theme of setting a higher standard for safety practices. Farmsafe Australia reported 53 deaths on Australian farms in 2025, with another 182 people suffering serious injuries. Leading causes of death in that region include tractors and quad bikes. WFI Insurance highlighted that accident claims often peak during the harvest months of October through December, leading the firm to establish round-the-clock mental health support for its farming clients.

en | boerse | 69815069 |