Farming is one of the most hazardous industries in the UK. Farmers, farm workers, contractors and visitors can all be exposed to significant risks every day, including moving vehicles, machinery, livestock, hazardous substances, work at height and lone working activities.
Consequently, effective Health & Safety management is essential not only to protect people from harm but also to ensure compliance with legal requirements and maintain a productive farming operation.
As experts in providing Health & Safety services for the agricultural sector, we've created this guide covering Health & Safety essentials on your farm.
Why is Health & Safety important in agriculture?
Agricultural work often involves multiple high-risk activities. Unlike many workplaces, farms present a combination of workplace transport risks, machinery hazards, animal handling activities, chemicals, environmental conditions and public access concerns.
Poor Health & Safety management can result in serious injuries, occupational illnesses, lost productivity, enforcement action and significant financial costs. Effective Health & Safety arrangements help protect workers, family members, contractors and members of the public while supporting efficient farm operations.
What are an employer's legal duties?
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers have a legal duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees and anyone else who may be affected by their activities.
For farms, this includes:
Identifying workplace hazards.
Conducting suitable and sufficient risk assessments.
Providing safe equipment and machinery.
Ensuring workers are appropriately trained and supervised.
Maintaining safe working environments.
Managing contractors safely.
Providing suitable personal protective equipment.
Implementing emergency arrangements.
Self-employed farmers also have duties where their work activities could affect others.
Carrying out farm risk assessments
Risk assessments help identify hazards, determine who may be harmed and establish suitable controls to reduce risks. Should you need support, Peninsula provides extensive risk assessment services.
Farm risk assessments should cover:
Agricultural machinery and vehicles
Livestock handling activities
Chemical storage and use
Grain handling and storage
Work at height
Lone working
Water hazards and slurry systems
Contractors and visitors
Fire risks
Risk assessments should be reviewed periodically and whenever significant changes occur, such as introducing new equipment or changing work processes.
Managing agricultural machinery safety
Agricultural machinery is involved in many serious workplace accidents each year. Tractors, combines, balers, augers, conveyors and other machinery can expose workers to entanglement, crushing, shearing and impact hazards.
To manage these risks, employers should ensure machinery:
Is suitable for its intended purpose
Is properly maintained and inspected
Has appropriate guards and safety devices fitted
Is operated only by trained and competent individuals
Is safely isolated before maintenance or repairs are carried out
Safe systems of work should be implemented for maintenance activities, particularly where workers may be exposed to moving parts or stored energy.
Workplace transport and vehicle safety
Vehicles are essential on most farms but remain one of the leading causes of serious injuries and fatalities.
Employers should establish controls such as:
Clearly defined traffic routes
Separation of pedestrians and vehicles where possible
Safe reversing procedures
Vehicle maintenance programmes
Driver training and competence checks
Pre-use vehicle inspections
Special attention should be given to tractors, telehandlers, ATVs, trailers and other mobile plant used on farms.
Safe handling of livestock
Working with livestock presents unique challenges due to the unpredictable nature of animals. Even experienced handlers can be injured when moving, treating or managing livestock.
Employers should:
Use suitable handling facilities and equipment
Maintain gates, races and pens
Ensure workers understand animal behaviour
Avoid lone working where higher-risk activities are being carried out
Provide training on safe livestock handling techniques
Particular care should be taken when working with cattle during calving periods or when handling animals that may be stressed or agitated.
Controlling hazardous substances
Many farming activities involve substances that could be harmful to health, including pesticides, herbicides, fertilisers, fuels, veterinary medicines and cleaning chemicals. Our free COSHH risk assessment template can be downloaded for support.
Employers must assess the risks associated with these substances and implement suitable controls. This may include:
Safe storage arrangements
Appropriate ventilation
Spill response procedures
Employee training
Use of suitable PPE
Health surveillance where necessary
Substances hazardous to health should always be stored securely and used in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
Work at height
Falls remain a significant cause of serious injury on farms. Workers may be required to access roofs, grain stores, silos, machinery or elevated work areas as part of routine operations.
In most cases, ladders are used, and extra precautions must be taken. Our free ladder safety checklist is an invaluable tool.
Where work at height cannot be avoided, employers should:
Use appropriate access equipment
Ensure equipment is inspected and maintained
Plan work activities carefully
Prevent falls wherever possible
Provide training to those carrying out the work
Lone working on farms
Many farming tasks are carried out by individuals working alone and often in remote locations. This can increase the consequences of an incident or medical emergency.
Employers should assess lone working risks and implement suitable controls, such as:
Communication procedures.
Regular check-in arrangements.
Emergency response plans.
Suitable supervision where required.
Restrictions on high-risk lone working activities.
Fire safety and emergency planning
Farms often contain combustible materials, fuel storage areas, electrical systems and workshops that may increase the risk of fire.
Employers should:
Complete a fire risk assessment
Maintain firefighting equipment
Implement emergency procedures
Ensure escape routes remain accessible
Provide fire safety training where appropriate
Regularly inspect electrical installations and equipment
Emergency arrangements should also address incidents involving machinery, chemicals, livestock and medical emergencies.
Confined spaces, silos and grain storage hazards
Confined spaces present some of the most serious risks on farms and are frequently involved in fatal accidents. Areas such as grain silos, feed bins, slurry tanks, underground pits, storage vessels and enclosed chambers may meet the definition of a confined space due to the presence of hazardous atmospheres, restricted access or the potential for engulfment.
One of the most significant hazards is the risk of becoming trapped or buried in stored grain. Grain can behave like a liquid, meaning workers can quickly become engulfed if they enter a silo or grain store while grain is moving or being discharged. A person can become completely submerged within seconds, making self-rescue extremely difficult.
Additional hazards associated with silos and confined spaces include:
Oxygen-deficient atmospheres caused by fermentation or decomposition processes
Toxic gases released from slurry, silage or stored materials
Dust explosions resulting from ignition of combustible grain dust
Falls from height while accessing silos, bins or storage structures
Entrapment in moving augers, conveyors and discharge mechanisms
Exposure to harmful dusts that can cause respiratory disease
Difficulties in evacuation and rescue during an emergency
Where possible, entry into confined spaces should be avoided altogether. If entry cannot be avoided, employers must carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and implement strict controls. Workers should never enter a grain silo, bin or other confined space unless the task has been properly planned, authorised and supervised.
Training and competence
One of the most important Health & Safety requirements on any farm is ensuring workers have the skills and knowledge needed to carry out their duties safely.
Staff training may be required for:
Machinery operation
ATV and vehicle use
Livestock handling
Chemical application
Manual handling
Fire safety
Emergency procedures
Employers should ensure employees receive appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision for their role.
Benefits of effective farm Health & Safety management
Good health and safety management can help farms:
Reduce accidents and ill health
Improve legal compliance
Reduce downtime and operational disruption
Protect workers and visitors
Improve productivity and efficiency
Lower insurance and accident-related costs
Demonstrate a commitment to responsible farming practices
By proactively managing risks, farms can create a safer working environment whilst supporting the long-term sustainability of their business.
How Peninsula can support Health & Safety on your farm
Managing Health & Safety on a farm can be challenging, particularly when dealing with multiple hazards, seasonal activities and changing working environments.
Peninsula's Health & Safety experts can help you meet your legal obligations and implement practical solutions tailored to the agricultural sector.
Whether you operate a small family farm or a large agricultural business, Peninsula can help you identify risks, improve compliance and protect everyone working on your farm.
Contact us today to find out how our Health & Safety specialists can support your agricultural operations.
