Farm Safety Week, led by the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies), runs each July and aims to shine a light on the realities of farm accidents. Recent HSE figures show that 29 people were killed in agriculture between April 2025 and March 2026, with thousands more suffering serious injuries that affect mobility, independence and long‑term health.
Agriculture continues to have the highest fatal injury rate of any UK industry, with workers seven times more likely to die at work than those in construction and 21 times more likely than the all‑industry average.
The Human Impact
Behind every statistic is a person, a family and a business dealing with the aftermath. Many farmers report fearing life‑changing injuries more than death, because these injuries can permanently affect their ability to work and live independently.
Common causes of serious incidents include:
- Moving or overturning vehicles
- Falls from height
- Machinery entanglement
- Livestock handling
- Heat‑related fatigue, which increases risk during busy periods and heatwaves
🌾 Why Farm Safety Week Is Essential
Farm Safety Week encourages farmers to pause, reflect and make one meaningful change that improves safety. The campaign highlights:
- The reality of life‑changing injuries, not just fatalities
- The importance of risk assessment, even during busy periods
- The need for cultural change, where safety becomes part of everyday practice
- The disproportionate risks faced by children and older workers, who remain over‑represented in fatality statistics
🛡️ How MBO Safety Services Supports Safer Farming
At MBO Safety Services, we help farming businesses strengthen their safety culture and reduce risk through practical, tailored support.
Our Key Services
- Safety audits: Full site inspections identifying hazards, unsafe behaviours and compliance gaps.
- Risk assessment support: Clear, practical assessments for machinery, livestock, vehicles, chemicals and work at height.
- Training and toolbox talks: Engaging sessions covering machinery safety, manual handling, lone working, vehicle safety and emergency response.
- Policy and procedure development: Creation or review of health and safety documentation aligned with HSE guidance.
- Incident investigation: Support following near misses or accidents to prevent recurrence.
- Ongoing compliance support: Regular visits, updates and monitoring to keep safety standards on track.
The MBO Approach
We understand the pressures farmers face: long hours, unpredictable weather, heavy machinery and tight deadlines. Our role is to make safety practical, achievable and embedded in daily routines. Even small changes, a five‑minute risk check, better signage, improved maintenance, can prevent life‑changing incidents.
🌱 Building a Safer Future for UK Farms
Farm Safety Week is a reminder that safety is not a box‑ticking exercise; it is about protecting lives, livelihoods and the future of farming. As MBO Safety Services, we are committed to supporting farmers across the UK in creating safer working environments where everyone goes home at the end of the day, to find out how we can assist you, get in touch with us today on 08000 842 297 or info@mbo.ltd