Following the release of the latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which show farming is one of the most dangerous professions in the UK, a personal injury lawyer with solicitors Clarke Wilmott has said more needs to be done to keep the industry safe.
The new figures show that 27 people lost their lives on farms in 2023/2024, including two children, and that while agriculture only accounts for 1% of the working population, 20% of all workplace deaths are in this sector.
Specialist serious injury lawyer Lee Hart said that despite increased awareness of health and safety measures, the number of deaths and life-changing injuries remained too high, adding that the HSE’s decision to halt farm safety inspections was concerning.
“Farming is undoubtedly a dangerous profession and of course, accidents are going to happen.
“But that aside, incidents are happening too frequently. For more than a decade, the Farm Safety Foundation, also known as Yellow Wellies, has been running its Farm Safety Week campaign to ensure farms are a safer place to live and to work on. These initiatives are incredibly important to reduce accidents across the agriculture industry, but more needs to be done.
“It is concerning that the HSE has decided to put a stop to farm safety inspections, a decision which is likely to increase risks to the health and safety of workers in the farming sector. While they will continue to investigate serious accidents or deaths, the halting of safety inspections, training and events could lead to an increase in serious injuries and lost lives.
“We need the HSE to work collaboratively with farmers to improve standards and prevent accidents occurring.”
Lee said further data from insurer NFU Mutual showed that there were 937 farm accident claims in 2023/24 totalling more than £68m. Claims included those related to falls from height, trapped body parts and falling objects.
Lee continued: “Major agricultural insurers, such as NFU Mutual, will increasingly be relied upon to fill the gap left by the HSE halting investigations.”
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