The Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) organises Farm Safety Week each year. The awareness week provides “an opportunity to come together as an industry and recognise those lost to, and impacted by, incidents on farms. Whether new to the industry or farming for years, we all have a role to play in improving the poor safety record that we can’t seem to shake.” Stephanie Berkeley, Manager of the Farm Safety Foundation.

Why is Farm Safety Week important?

According to the HSE, in agriculture, forestry and fishing in 2023/24:

• There were 23 fatal injuries to workers.
• The fatal injuries rate is 7.51 per 100,000 workers. This is about 21 times the all-industry rate.
• Around 3.1% of workers in the sector sustained a workplace non-fatal injury. This rate is statistically significantly higher than that for workers across all industries (1.7%).

In addition, the Farm Safety Foundation found that 91% of UK farmers and agricultural workers, rank poor mental health as one of the biggest hidden problems facing the industry today. Their research also identified that ‘farmers with lower mental wellbeing scores were significantly more likely to admit to working unsafely and risk-taking’.

Employers have a legal duty of care to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of their employees, including mental health/stress. Mental wellbeing also benefits the business, for example, increased productivity, a reduction in sickness and staff turnover, and it demonstrates that the organisation is a good, safe, and supportive place to work.

Mental wellbeing in the workplace is also good for the employee, for example, improving confidence, purpose, achievement, positive relationships, and inclusion.