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

The Health and Safety Executive is supporting Farm Safety Week after provisional data for 2025 26 revealed 29 deaths in agriculture forestry and fishing, with children and older workers particularly at risk. The figures underline the sector wide safety challenge and the need for practical action and cultural change on farms.

The Health and Safety Executive has reiterated its support for Farm Safety Week following provisional 2025 26 data showing 29 deaths in agriculture forestry and fishing. The total includes seven members of the public of whom three were children. Over the last five years nine children have died on farms representing 6% of all work related fatal injuries in the sector, and workers aged over 65 accounted for half of all worker fatalities in 2025 26.

Across the five year period the sector averaged 28 work related deaths per year. Measured per 100 000 workers the fatal injury rate in agriculture is about five times higher than in construction and 21 times higher than the all industry average. Vehicles falling objects falls from height animals and machinery remain the main causes of death, with moving or overturning vehicles alone responsible for eight fatalities in 2025 26.

HSE officials say these losses are not inevitable and call for practical controls and a sustained cultural change on farms. Inspectors emphasise that children should not be in the farm workplace and that older workers face particular risks in the demanding farm environment. HSE will continue to work with industry partners including Britain s Farm Safety Partnerships to drive improvements and promote available guidance such as What a Good Farm Looks Like and Farmwise which is also available in Welsh.

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