Top farming safety tips from Farmers Weekly readers
© Tim Scrivener Next week marks the start of Farm Safety Week (17- 21 July), an annual campaign to inspire safe practice across farms in the UK and Ireland.
This year’s event comes in the wake of the latest farming fatalities report, which shows that farming remains among the most dangerous industries in the UK.
According to the Health and Safety Executive there were 21 deaths in the 12 months to 31 March 2023.
To raise awareness of the importance of keeping themselves and others safe on the farm, Farmers Weekly asked readers to share their top safety tips and advice.
See also: Farming fatalities continue to blight the industry
Luke Abblitt, arable farmer, Cambridgeshire Fens
Luke Abblitt © Luke Abblitt
I wear a safety wedding ring. It’s made of rubber so if it gets caught on anything it will snap, saving my finger.
When we are working on a machine and need to start something up, we always beep the horn until we see all of the people that are also working on it.
We wait to see them, and for them all to give us the thumbs up.
Will Jones, young farmer, East Yorkshire
Will Jones © Will Jones
Download What3Words and invest in a decent high-vis gear. You can still get some cool-looking ones that aren’t the crappy, thin vests.
Combine wise, it’s always good to have two 20-litre drums of water stored on the top as well as your extinguishers.
The fire extinguishers are good, but can blow hot embers to other areas around the combine if you’re trying to put a fire out.
Milly Fyfe, livestock and arable farmer, Northamptonshire
Milly Fyfe © Paul Rogers
As a mother of two young children, I don’t let the children out of my sight. There are too many dangers on the farm.
The children see the farmyard as a massive adventure playground, and with livestock, machinery and falls from heights being big risks, they don’t see the accidents that are waiting to happen.
Charles Goadby, dairy and arable farmer, North Warwickshire
Kids want to be on the farm and, as a farmer and dad, I wanted to embrace the farm with them, but it’s not a safe place.
In the end, I bought a small flock of sheep to farm with the kids when they were young teens, so they were able to work alongside me and feel a part of the farm.
Younger kids could have a small area to grow and sell pumpkins or have a hen house, for example.
Just find a small area that’s accessible and safe, away from the main hub, but that allows them and you to share the farming experience and teach them the basic skills from an early age.
More safety advice from FW readers
- “No safety, know pain. Know safety, no pain.” Aidan O’ Callaghan
- “If you’re tired and about to take on a difficult task, stop and rest. An injured or dead farmer is no use to anyone – family, friends or the greater community.” Suzanna Crampton
- “If it feels dangerous, stop. It’s not worth it.” Joe Stanley
- “When using a quad bike, always wear a helmet.” Bruce Wilson
- “Get an iPhone tracker app so someone knows where you are when working alone.” Wayne Airey
- “Always stand behind a loaded gun and in front of a coughing cow” Vanessa Tagg
- “If you get out of the cab to adjust or unblock a machine, turn the machine off and take your phone with you.” Andrew Wilson
- “Just because you’ve been doing it this way for years, doesn’t mean it’s safe. Take a fresh look at old habits.” Daniel Bennett
- “Whenever doing anything with machines, put the machine in neutral, hand break on, pto off, machine off, and take the keys with you. There’s no chance of it moving then.” Chris Dodson
- “If you’re going into a yard with machinery working, make sure the operator knows you’re there.” Alex Edwards
- “Check text messages when lads have finished work, so you know they’re back and safe.” Will Jones
- “High-vis gear to be worn on the farmyard, especially for children.” Nia Lloyd
Thank you to all our readers who offered these pearls of wisdom. They could save a life.