Fencing drives rise in farm pipeline safety incidents

Agricultural contractors were involved in more than half of all underground pipeline safety breaches last year, with fencing the leading cause of incidents, according to the latest Linewatch Infringement Report.

Landowners and agricultural contractors were responsible for 51% of all pipeline infringements in 2025, marking a 10% increase on the previous year and leaving farming as the UK’s highest-risk sector for pipeline safety for the ninth consecutive year.

The report also found that more than a quarter (26%) of all reported incidents occurred on farmland, the highest proportion of any location.

See also: Farmers urged to put health and safety first this harvest

Agriculture accounted for four-fifths of all high-risk pipeline infringements recorded during the year.

For the first time since 2022, fencing overtook excavation as the most common cause of pipeline infringements, accounting for 23% of all reported cases.

Other agricultural activities linked to incidents included tree planting (6%), ditching (5%) and drainage work (5%).

Growing concern

The report highlights growing concern about work being carried out near underground fuel and chemical pipelines.

Almost half (49%) of all infringements happened despite those carrying out the work already knowing a pipeline was present, with landowners and their contractors responsible for half of these incidents.

Linewatch manager Murray Peat stressed that while routine land maintenance is essential, it must be carried out safely.

“Whether it is fencing, ditching, or drainage, there is no such thing as a ‘low risk’ project when high-pressure pipelines are involved,” he said.

The report also identified seasonal trends, with the highest number of agricultural infringements occurring between February and April, and again in August, reflecting peak periods for fencing and ditching work.

Check for pipelines

Linewatch is urging farmers, landowners and contractors to check for underground pipelines before starting any groundworks by using the free Linesearch Before U Dig (LSBUD) service.

“Doing so will alert the enquirer to the presence of a pipeline in just three minutes – enough time to make a brew while you wait,” added Mr Peat.