What is the most common occupational hazard in farming?

Government statistics show that being hit by a moving vehicle is the most common occupational hazard within the agricultural sector. This is followed by being injured by an animal and falling from a height.

What are PUWER and LOLER in agriculture?

PUWER stands for the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, which govern the proper maintenance of machinery and equipment. LOLER stands for Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 and applies to businesses and people who own and operate lifting equipment.

Do I need a written health and safety policy for my farm?

If you have five or more employees, you must have a written health and safety policy. However, having a documented policy is considered best practice regardless of how many employees you have.

A guide to managing health and safety risks in agriculture

Agriculture remains one of the most dangerous sectors to work in. Data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) also reveals that over the last ten years, nearly one person each week has been killed directly because of agricultural work.

These figures highlight just how hazardous farming can be and why safety precautions and comprehensive farm insurance are crucial. To help you prioritise your farm’s health and safety, we outline common hazards and ways to minimise the risk of injury and death.

05.05.26

By Alan Boswell Group

Why health and safety is critical for UK farms

Despite employing just 1% of the UK workforce, 20% of all workplace fatalities occur in the agricultural sector. Further figures from the HSE highlight this disproportionate risk and show that the fatal injury rate for the agriculture, forestry, and fishing industries is 22 times higher than for all industries combined (8.23 per 100,000 compared to 0.37 per 100,000).

These statistics illustrate the importance of health and safety at work. Adhering to safety protocols doesn’t just help save lives; it also validates any farm insurance policies you have, demonstrating your commitment to employee welfare.

The most common farm hazards (and how to avoid them)

The types of hazards you face will largely depend on the type of farming you do, but the most common farming accidents involve:

Agricultural vehicles and moving machinery

Being struck by a moving vehicle is one of the biggest causes of agricultural fatalities, so it goes without saying that employees should be properly trained in the safe use of work equipment before they’re given control of machinery or large vehicles.

In particular, HSE case studies highlight the dangers of unguarded or inadequately guarded PTO (power take off) shafts, which are responsible for multiple incidents, even when employees are highly visible.

Bear in mind that any new equipment purchased since January 2025 must have a UKCA mark (and not just a CE mark). It’s also your responsibility to ensure that new machinery is supplied with a Declaration of Conformity and user instructions in English. Regular engineering inspections are also essential to ensure machinery and equipment are properly maintained under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).

Falls from height

Falling from height is the main cause of work-related deaths across all industry types. For agricultural workers, fragile barn roofs and stacking bales regularly expose employees to hazards, particularly when makeshift platforms or unsecured ladders are used instead of specialised equipment such as MEWPs (mobile elevating work platforms).

Handling livestock

Over the last ten years, more than 40 employees have been fatally injured by animals, according to HSE statistics. But while the HSE emphasise the risk involved working with animals, these risks can be mitigated by ensuring employees are adequately trained to manage the animals they’re handling.

Animals should be properly penned in, and fences should be regularly checked. Equipment, such as a cattle crush or race, should be secure and function properly to minimise animal stress. It’s also a good idea to plan an escape route for workers handling animals in case the unexpected happens.

Plus, don’t forget that your animals are assets too, and livestock insurance is designed to cover financial loss in the event of infertility, theft, disease, or death.

Hazardous substances and confined spaces

Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), any substance that can cause ill health must be adequately controlled. This includes pesticides, cleaning chemicals, and slurry, which all release toxic gases, as can some medicines, additives, paints, and lubricants.

Slurry can be especially hazardous, and the HSE warns that a lack of smell does not mean there is no dangerous gas. Hydrogen sulphate often cannot be smelt when it reaches high levels, but it can cause instant death.

As well as dangerous gases, grain dust can trigger asthma attacks, and mould spores can cause chronic conditions such as Farmer’s Lung. To prevent long-term conditions and fatalities, stores should be adequately ventilated, and slurry pits should be secured with unclimbable fences. Anyone working in a grain silo should also be properly trained in how to use safety equipment (such as a harness).

Manual handling and musculoskeletal issues

In agriculture, the prevalence of musculoskeletal issues (such as back pain, joint strains and sprains) is three times higher than in other industries, making it one of the most common causes of long-term, non-fatal injuries.

To reduce the risk of long-term damage and prevent the worsening of existing issues, consider whether items need to be moved at all. If they do, look for ways to minimise manual lifting. For example, can you use equipment or machinery instead? But remember, if you have forklifts on-site, operators will need to be properly trained.

Electrical hazards

In addition to the standard risks associated with electrical equipment, agricultural workers face the risk of injury or death from overhead power lines (OHPLs). These hazards are often increased as farm machinery becomes taller, bringing vehicles and equipment closer to overhead lines and raising the risk of electrical arcing.

If work needs to take place close to overhead (or underground) cables, it’s best to temporarily disconnect the power supply (your distribution network operator, DNO, can help with this). Your DNO can also supply maps of where underground cables lie.

Your legal obligations as a farm employer

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 sets out what you must do to make the workplace safe for staff and the public (for example, if your farm has footpaths).

If you fail to meet your legal obligations and don’t have suitable health and safety procedures in place, you risk facing an unlimited fine and even imprisonment.

Alongside this legislation, you’ll need to remember your PUWER obligations (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) and the equivalent legislation for lifting equipment, LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations).

Practical steps to prevent farm accidents

No one should risk their life for work, and while it’s impossible to stop all accidents, there’s a lot you can do to reduce the chances of one happening. Actionable tips include:

Carrying out risk assessments

As an employer, it is your legal responsibility to assess workplace risks and carrying out a risk assessment is an effective way to highlight potential hazards.

If you have five or more employees, you must also document your findings by law; however, it’s good practice to do so regardless of how many employees you have.

The HSE provides guidance on how to carry out risk assessments, but key steps include:

Identify hazards – such as working from height, or long-term health hazards, such as exposure to chemicals.
Identify the consequences of hazards – who could be harmed and how.
Decide which precautions are needed – can you remove the hazard, or can you control the risk (e.g., by completing the task in a safer way)?
Putting the results into practice – carry out any necessary improvements, starting with the highest-risk areas, and share hazard information with those who need it.
Continuously review your assessment – check that it is still relevant and that your controls are followed.

Providing effective health and safety training

All employees should be properly trained to use equipment and machinery safely and should be provided with suitable workwear. Often, accidents occur due to hasty decisions, but having clear procedures and safeguards in place can significantly reduce the risk of injury or death. If you’re looking for specific advice, the HSE has produced Farmwise, an essential guide to health and safety in agriculture.

Implementing control measures

Control measures are steps you take that aim to stop or minimise a particular hazard or reduce the risk of an accident. For example, if you store pesticides or other chemicals on site, control measures could include ensuring storage facilities are properly ventilated and that containers are secure and clearly labelled.

How farm insurance and risk management work together

Your farm insurance provider will expect you to meet your health and safety obligations. If not, you may be invalidating your policy and may run into issues when making a claim.

If you feel your existing health and safety procedures would benefit from a review, our risk management services can help. In addition to advice, our experts can put together effective policies that accurately reflect and help reduce the unique risks in your farm business. Our engineering inspections team are also on hand to ensure machinery and equipment meet LOLER and PUWER standards.

FAQs

Managing risk and protecting your farm

Agriculture has one of the highest fatality rates of all industries, but effective risk management and clear health and safety policies can reduce the possibility of devastating incidents occurring in the first place.

We understand that farming isn’t quite like other industries and that the risks you face will vary considerably based on your farming practices. Not only that, but diversification also changes your business’s risk profile, and additional activities will need to be carefully considered (for example, if you rent out farm buildings for storage or holiday lets).

With all this in mind, our farming specialists are here to help you with all aspects of risk management, engineering inspection services, and health and safety training. To find out more or speak to an expert member of the team, call us on 01603 967900.

Please note that our risk management services (e.g. health & safety and inspection services) are not regulated by Financial Conduct Authority.

How can Alan Boswell Group help?

We understand that farming isn’t quite like other industries and that needs will vary tremendously based on the risks associated with your farming practices. Our dedicated farm specialists can help you with all aspects of risk management, engineering inspection services, and health and safety training.

As a farm owner, it’s important to consider the financial risks your business will face and how tailored agricultural insurance can protect your assets. For more information and to speak to an expert, call a member of the team.

Speak to us: 01603 218000

A guide to managing health and safety risks in agriculture

In this article

In this article

Why health and safety is critical for UK farms

The most common farm hazards (and how to avoid them)