IOSH new president to fight for members, farmers, foresters and underdogs
Supporting a sector that suffers
Richard Bate CFIOSH draws attention to what he has called some ‘really awful statistics’ in the rural sector, particularly the disproportionate number of fatalities. Although the rural sector represents just 1% of the workforce in Great Britain, agriculture, fishing and forestry accounts for 18.5% of all workplace fatalities in the country, with provisional data from the GB Health and Safety Executive (HSE) showing that 23 workers were killed in 2024/25 (HSE, 2025).
Agriculture, fishing and forestry has long occupied the top spot in the rankings of the most dangerous sectors (HSE, 2023). HSE statistics show that over the past five years the average fatal injury rate in the sector was 8.77 per 100,000 workers – around 22 times the all-industry rate (HSE, 2025). By comparison, the waste and construction sectors had rates of 3.29 and 1.92 respectively.
On average during this period, the top cause of fatal injury was being struck by a moving vehicle (23%), followed by being struck by a moving object (16%), having contact with moving machinery (16%), being injured by an animal (11%) and falling from a height (11%).
Non-fatal injuries are also more common in agriculture, fishing and forestry – and have remained roughly at the same level for the past decade (HSE, 2025). The rate for self-reported injuries over the past five years is 3.2% (equating to around 8,000 workers), compared with 1.7% across all industries.
Agriculture, fishing and forestry has long occupied the top spot in the rankings of the most dangerous sectors
Going beyond the numbers
Besides physical safety, those working in farming and agriculture are also battling a burgeoning mental health crisis, fed by a range of political, personal and practical factors. Indeed, 95% of the UK’s young farmers (under 40) believe mental health is now the biggest hidden problem facing farmers today. (Farm Safety Foundation, 2026)
Long hours, isolation, stress and financial instability can all add up to excessive pressure, for farmers of any age. Tragically, this sometimes proves fatal.
The available data makes it difficult to say with certainty how many farmers end up taking their own lives. But among suicides registered by the Office for National Statistics in England and Wales in 2024, 47 people between the ages of 20 and 64 years had been in agricultural or fishing roles. The full toll is likely to be higher.