IOSH recently reported on farming sector and the fear expressed by a panel of farm safety commentators during a webinar at the 2025 Farm Safety Week. The webinar was hosted by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and chaired by its President-Elect, Richard Bate.

IOSH explains that the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing has a fatality rate 22 times the average UK all-industry rate for the past five years. Reporting that a total of 11,000 people were seriously injured on British farms in 2023/24. This sector only accounts for one percent of Britain’s workforce, yet unfortunately it claims around 20 per cent of all worker fatalities.

At the webinar panelist Olivia Barrett, who is a risk management consultant with NFU Mutual, explored and the highlighted recent cost rises. As IOSH states, animal feed, fuel, power and straw, have gone from 38 per cent to 50 per cent of farmers’ total costs. This is when competitive markets have meant farm prices haven’t been allowed to accommodate this rise in overheads.

An additional contribution is the challenging climate which is putting pressure on land use and resulting in low crop yields and with so many farms tempted to cut labour costs to make savings, “this has forced many farm workers into working even longer hours, causing fatigue,” pointed out fellow panelist Mike Whiting, a farming consultant and chair of the IOSH Rural Industries community. Resulting in potentially more accidents, more injuries (or worse), increased isolation and loneliness affecting farmers’ mental health. In addition, other factors such as the rise in inheritance tax and employers’ national insurance have added to the burdens.

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