unite Health and Safety Stay safe
When the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published provisional 2024-2025 figures for fatal accidents at work in July (124), it reported a decrease of 14 compared to the previous 12-month period (running from April to March).
Workplace deaths have fallen steadily, with 223 in 2004-5 and 495 in 1981. Even in our field, agriculture, forestry and fishing, the 23 incidents reported this year are two down on the previous four-year average.
But fatal accidents in farms and forestry stay stubbornly higher per 100,000 workers than any other workplace. Even construction lags way behind in deaths per 100,000, with 1.65 compared to 8.01 in farming.
However, deaths of non-workers are well below the average for all workplaces (92), with fatalities reported to RIDDOR as four, consistently in the eldest (over 65) or youngest (children under 16) age bands. The victims are often family members.
Once again, deaths among those 65 and over stand out, with 13 as opposed to two or three in any other age band.
This is affected partly by independent farmers and workers working till later in life, but again the warning is that experience by itself is no safeguard against accidents and deaths.
The total number of deaths came to 23 in agriculture forestry and fishing, with 35 in construction. Final figures will be released in November.
Much is known about risk, but still opportunities arise for serious accidents. What is our first line of defence? History has shown that analysis and cooperation are ways to gain control of a situation.
n By Helen Armstrong
Latest on workers’ safety news
AGRI DEATHS – STILL TOO HIGH
Cutting HSE inspections won’t help protect lives
The Farm Safety Foundation (aka Yellow Wellies) was founded by NFU Mutual “to help young farmers challenge their behaviours and change their attitude to farm safety. The ultimate aim of the Foundation is to have zero avoidable deaths on our farms,” particularly among younger people (16-40), where there are greater opportunities for training.
As well as providing courses in agricultural colleges and other venues, it also publishes free, downloadable booklets summarising risk assessment and actions to help prevent serious accidents before they happen.
The leading message is ‘Don’t think “it will never happen to me”.’
A fall, contact with overhead power lines, sudden vehicle movement, toxic or hypoxia-causing gases in fruit stores – all can kill in moments, without warning and before help can come.
Farm vehicles, from tractors to ATVs are another source of serious incidents. Yet most of these circumstances could be foreseen.
We all hope that the tide is turning on the reluctance to wear safety helmets. Safety equipment has been called “uncool” – a sorry situation.
It is very important that work PPE – like any workwear – should fit properly, not slip or hamper work. There are many good materials available. Employers should ensure that workers have access to suitable PPE of all kinds. Self- employed contractors are generally responsible for their own PPE, but employers/owners must ensure that sites are safe and properly run.
32 uniteLANDWORKER Spring 2026
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