The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is reinforcing its commitment to Farm Safety Week, as new provisional figures for 2025/26 reveal that children and older workers continue to face a disproportionately high risk of fatal injury on Britain’s farms. The agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector recorded 29 fatalities in 2025/26, including seven members of the public, three of whom were children, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced safety measures.
Agriculture Records Highest Fatality Rate Across UK Industries
Agriculture consistently holds the unenviable position as the industry with the highest rate of work-related fatalities in Great Britain. The latest data highlights a persistent and concerning trend, with the sector averaging 28 work-related deaths annually over the past five years. This translates to a fatal injury rate five times higher than that seen in construction and a staggering 21 times higher than the all-industry average, indicating systemic challenges within the farming community.
A tragic aspect of these figures is the continued loss of young lives. Over the last five years, nine children have died on British farms, accounting for 6% of all work-related fatal injuries within the sector. These incidents often occur in environments where children should not be present, or where adequate protective measures are not in place to separate them from hazardous farm operations. The HSE strongly advises that children, especially young children, should be kept in safe, fenced areas, such as a farmhouse garden, away from the active farm workplace.
At the other end of the age spectrum, older workers are also significantly over-represented in fatality statistics. Provisional data for 2025/26 shows that individuals over 65 years of age accounted for half of all worker fatalities in agriculture. This statistic serves as a stark reminder of the particular risks faced by older farmers in what remains a physically demanding and often dangerous working environment. Factors such as declining physical agility, slower reaction times, and the continued operation of older, less safeguarded machinery may contribute to these elevated risks.
The primary causes of these deaths remain consistent year after year. Moving or overturning vehicles alone claimed eight lives in 2025/26, making them a leading hazard. Other significant contributors to fatalities include falling objects, falls from height, interactions with animals, and contact with dangerous machinery. These categories collectively represent the most critical areas where safety improvements are desperately needed across the industry.
Wayne Owen, an HSE inspector for agriculture, has expressed profound concern over the persistent loss of life, particularly the deaths of children. He emphasised that these incidents are not inevitable accidents but rather often stem from risks that could and should be effectively controlled. Owen stressed that meaningful and lasting improvement in farm safety will only be achieved through a significant cultural shift across the industry, a change that must begin on every individual farm and with every farmer.
The HSE is actively working with industry partners, including Britain’s Farm Safety Partnerships, to drive this essential cultural change. They continue to provide comprehensive guidance and resources designed to help farmers identify and mitigate risks. Publications such as ‘What a good farm looks like’ and ‘Farmwise’ (available in both English and Welsh) offer practical advice and best practice examples to foster safer working environments. These resources are readily available on the HSE website, providing accessible information to support farmers in their safety efforts.
This story was originally published by HSE Media Centre.
