NOEA Council member Richard Bate has been elected as the President of the Chartered Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH), and has called upon its members, farm employers and the agricultural sector to make farming a safer, less stressful way to make a decent living. Richard clearly identifies the crossover between the events and entertainment sector as farmers diversify to support their incomes in a challenging economic environment.
Having grown up in a farming community in North Wales, Richard laments the fact that there’s become an ominous acceptance that farming will account for more workers’ deaths and serious injuries than any other industry sector. Every worker deserves to go home safe, healthy and well at the end of the day. Health and safety isn’t just about rules or compliance. It’s about protecting people’s lives and livelihoods and enabling them to realise their potential. When health and safety is managed well, it doesn’t just prevent harm; it creates better work, stronger businesses, and a healthier society.
Good health and safety management prevents tragedies before they happen. It helps build workplaces that are productive, inclusive, and sustainable. It’s a foundation for wellbeing, trust, and long-term success.
Sadly, this doesn’t always happen. In the UK’s agriculture, forestry and fishing industry, 23 people died in an accident at work in 2024-25. The rate of 8.23 fatal injuries per 100,000 workers makes it by some distance the most dangerous industry in the UK. The fact that this sector accounts for 20 per cent of fatal injuries at work in the UK, despite only making up one per cent of the workforce, further highlights the issue. On top of this, in 2024-25, four members of the public were killed by work activities in the industry – two of them children.
It is important to remember that behind every number is a person, whether a colleague, a friend, or a family member.
When we talk about 1.9 million people living with work-related ill health in Great Britain, we’re talking about individuals struggling with pain, work-related stress, depression or anxiety, or work-related musculoskeletal disorder that could have been prevented.
Each statistic is a reminder that health and safety is about people, not paperwork. The numbers show the scale of the challenge, but they also drive us to act, learn, and ensure every story that follows is safer and healthier.
IOSH and NOEA share a collective challenge to strive for a better, safer, and healthier world of work for everyone. We believe that no one should be harmed by their job, and that through education, empowerment and culture, we can make lasting change. As the world’s leading professional body for occupational safety and health, IOSH is uniquely placed to equip people and organisations with the knowledge and skills to make that vision a reality.
It’s time to come together, regardless of the sectors we represent, and continue our drive toward safer, healthier workplaces for everyone.