Thousands of workplace injuries and near misses on UK farms may be going unreported, according to new research from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).
To mark Farm Safety Week – held from 20 to 24 July – the organisation is highlighting the ways in which underreporting is masking the true scale of workplace incidents in agriculture, one of the UK’s highest risk industries.
Survey reveals barriers to reporting
A survey of 250 farmers across the UK found that 30% were discouraged from reporting health and safety incidents because of concerns about inspections, enforcement action or legal consequences.
More than a third (34%) said minor injuries and near misses were often not considered serious enough to report.
Latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show agriculture continues to have the highest fatal injury rate of any industry sector in Great Britain, with 22 fatalities recorded across agriculture, forestry and fishing during the last reporting year.
Risk taking remains common
The survey also found that 81% of farmers personally knew someone who had been seriously injured or killed in a farming related incident.
A similar proportion said attitudes towards health and safety had changed very little over time.
Nearly four in five respondents (79%) admitted skipping safety measures, such as wearing personal protective equipment, to complete tasks more quickly, while 82% acknowledged taking shortcuts that increased health and safety risks.
Focus on prevention
The research also highlighted the impact of mental wellbeing on workplace safety, with 82% of farmers aged over 30 saying stress, fatigue and isolation can affect how safely they work.
As part of Farm Safety Week, IOSH is encouraging farmers, farm workers and agricultural businesses to improve the reporting of injuries and near misses, strengthen safety leadership and promote a culture focused on learning from incidents to help prevent future accidents.
IOSH President, Richard Bate, said: “Farming continues to bear more than its fair share of risk, and addressing this requires honesty and action. This issue is deeply personal to me. I grew up in a farming community in North Wales, with family ties to the land stretching back generations.
“As an operational paramedic and safety professional, I’ve seen first-hand how tragedies affect rural communities – and I’ve also seen how pressures on farmers can lead to compromises in safety.
“Those pressures are growing. Financial uncertainty, long hours and isolation are taking a toll, and we must recognise that mental health and physical safety are closely linked. Fatigue, stress and distraction increase risk exponentially.
“Every product we rely on has a human story behind it. We must ensure that the story is never one of preventable harm.
“This Farm Safety Week, I’m asking everyone connected to agriculture to play their part. I’m asking them to challenge complacency, be brave, speak up and act.
“Together, we can make farming a safer and healthier profession – and finally begin to break this tragic cycle.”
