HSE under fire over decision to stop farm inspections

Industry leaders have raised serious concerns over the Health and Safety Executive’s decision to stop farm safety inspections.

The Farm Safety Partnership (FSP) fears this decision will put workers in the farming sector at “significant” risk.

The latest provisional official figures on fatal farm accidents published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) last week showed 32 people lost their lives following accidents on farms in Great Britain from April 2023 to 2024. 

See also: Top farming safety tips from Farmers Weekly readers

FSP chairman David Exwood, who is also deputy president of the NFU, said the farming industry cannot afford to compromise on the safety of our farmers.

“The decision to halt inspections is deeply troubling and we urge the government and HSE to reconsider and continue to work collaboratively with farmers to help ensure they are compliant,” said Mr Exwood.

“We simply must prioritise the wellbeing of the nation’s farmers and growers.”

Mr Exwood said the HSE had given assurances that its investigative inspections in response to serious incidents will continue.

‘Notable gap’

But a lack of regular inspections, training and events will leave “a notable gap” in proactive and preventative safety measures that could prevent accidents and save lives, he warned.

The FSP are calling on Defra and the Department for Work and Pensions to recognise the critical safety implications of this decision, urgently review the potential impacts and establish a clear plan to prioritise the safety of those in the sector.

The Farm Safety Foundation (FSF) / Yellow Wellies charity said it had been aware that the HSE had planned to change its approach to focus on improving occupational health.

FSF manager Stephanie Berkeley said: “Farming has the poorest safety record of any occupation in the UK so maybe a refreshed approach is needed.

“Inspections can increase anxiety for someone who may already be dealing with other stressors and this is not helpful. The Farm Safety Partnership is correct in that a change of culture is needed in our industry. However, that change of culture won’t come from a single inspection.

“It will come from farmers realising they are the farms biggest asset and their safety is the priority.”

HSE response

A HSE spokesperson said: “The Farm Safety Partnership and its member organisations play a key role in changing behaviours and helping the sector to take ownership of its poor health and safety record. Our commitment to the partnership is unchanged.

“While we will continue to inspect and investigate where appropriate, our range of interventions is much broader.

“Our recent campaign was a successful example of using HSE and industry voices on farms to reinforce safety messages and reach a wide range of farmers and farmworkers.”  

HSE campaign aims to cut farm machinery deaths

The HSE has launched a new campaign aimed at reducing the number of farm fatalities caused by moving vehicles on British farms.

Incidents involving moving vehicles have been responsible for 30% of all fatalities on farms over the past five years – that’s 48 lives lost in incidents that have destroyed farming families.

Hundreds more are hurt in incidents involving moving vehicles on farms every year.

The HSE, Britain’s workplace safety regulator, is calling on everyone in the farming community to do what they can to reduce the number of injuries involving vehicles and save lives.

Its Work Right Agriculture ‘Your farm. Your future’ vehicle safety campaign has a website with lots of great advice and videos on how to use vehicles safely on farms.