The NFU, AHDB and VetPartners are working together to help reduce the risk of accidents involving people working in the agricultural industry. This year a survey has been launched to allow the group to better understand health and safety in the farming workplace.

Matt Dobbs, one of the key people leading the cross-sector collaborative approach, explains that health and safety affects everyone who sets foot on farm, no matter what their role is.

“Farms remain one of the most dangerous workplaces in the UK, with no long-term reduction in the number of accidents occurring,” he says.

“Farmers, family members, farm workers, vets, agronomists and members of the public using footpaths can all have their lives changed when things go wrong.”

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics show that in 2018 17,000 farm workers suffered from work-related ill health, 13,000 experienced a non-fatal injury and there were 29 fatalities.

“To change this, we need to understand current attitudes and ideas around health and safety, to help us develop tools, services and advice that will be useful in driving sustained improvements.”

The survey is open until 24 December 2019.