HSE Backs Farm Safety Week As Children And Older Workers Remain At Risk

HSE has renewed its support for Farm Safety Week after provisional data for 2025 26 recorded 29 deaths in agriculture forestry and fishing, with children and workers over 65 particularly affected. The figures highlight a persistently high fatality rate in the sector and the need for better risk control, cultural change and the use of available guidance.

The Health and Safety Executive has reaffirmed support for Farm Safety Week following provisional figures for 2025 26 that show 29 people were killed in agriculture forestry and fishing. The total includes seven members of the public, three of whom were children. Over the last five years nine children have died on farms, representing 6 percent of all work related fatal injuries in the sector, while workers over 65 accounted for half of all worker fatalities in 2025 26. Agriculture remains the industry with the highest rate of work related fatalities.

Across the last five years the sector has averaged 28 work related deaths each year. Measured per 100 000 workers the fatal injury rate in farming is five times higher than in construction and 21 times higher than the all industry average. The most common causes of death continue to be vehicles falling objects falls from height animals and machinery, with moving or overturning vehicles alone responsible for eight deaths in 2025 26.

HSE emphasises that these losses are tragic and not inevitable and that many result from risks that can and should be controlled. The regulator urges that children should not be in the farm workplace and should be kept in a safe fenced area such as a farmhouse garden. HSE also highlights the particular vulnerability of older workers and says meaningful lasting improvement will require a sustained cultural change across the industry starting on every farm. The regulator will continue to work with industry partners including Britain s Farm Safety Partnerships and encourages use of free guidance such as What a good farm looks like and Farmwise, which is also available in Welsh.

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