The Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) organises Farm Safety Week each year. The awareness week provides “an opportunity to come together as an industry and recognise those lost to, and impacted by, incidents on farms. Whether new to the industry or farming for years, we all have a role to play in improving the poor safety record that we can’t seem to shake.” Stephanie Berkeley, Manager of the Farm Safety Foundation.

At Mates in Mind, we know that good health means being both mentally and physically well. Our research found that some health conditions (e.g., headaches or migraines, arthritis or joint pain, eye strain etc.) can contribute to an elevated risk of workplace accidents if they affect mood, concentration, coordination or vigilance. Therefore, in order to improve safety, both physical and mental health need to be considered, and any issues identified must be addressed if required. However, in agriculture, as with many of the sectors in which we work, there is often a perceived need to work through health conditions, e.g., because livestock need to be looked after; crops planted, harvested etc. This is why we have joined charities and organisations already working in farming and agriculture to provide effective interventions and resources that can help to ensure all farmers, farm workers, employees and contractors are supported with their mental health in and through work.

This year, Farm Safety Week is running from Monday 21 to Friday 25 July, and we are encouraging our Supporters and everyone working in agriculture and farming to start the conversation, in order to improve mental health and save lives.

Why is Farm Safety Week important?

Please read our blog:

Why it is important to strengthen resilience in farming and agriculture

According to the HSE, in agriculture, forestry and fishing in 2023/24:

• There were 23 fatal injuries to workers.
• The fatal injuries rate is 7.51 per 100,000 workers. This is about 21 times the all-industry rate.
• Around 3.1% of workers in the sector sustained a workplace non-fatal injury. This rate is statistically significantly higher than that for workers across all industries (1.7%).

In addition, the Farm Safety Foundation found that 91% of UK farmers and agricultural workers, rank poor mental health as one of the biggest hidden problems facing the industry today. Their research also identified that ‘farmers with lower mental wellbeing scores were significantly more likely to admit to working unsafely and risk-taking’.

Employers have a legal duty of care to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of their employees, including mental health/stress. Mental wellbeing also benefits the business, for example, increased productivity, a reduction in sickness and staff turnover, and it demonstrates that the organisation is a good, safe, and supportive place to work.

Mental wellbeing in the workplace is also good for the employee, for example, improving confidence, purpose, achievement, positive relationships, and inclusion.

Resources

At Mates in Mind, we work with organisations to improve the mental health of their workforce by providing the skills, clarity, and confidence to employers on how to raise awareness, improve understanding, embed effective interventions and address the stigma that surrounds mental health.

This is why we have created a suite of resources to support organisations not only during Farm Safety Week, but also to create a supportive workplace culture which improves mental health in and through work.

Please click on the link below to download a free poster.

We have created a toolbox talk for the agriculture sector which can be used by individuals, or across a workforce. To receive a copy of the document, and to find out more about the AgriWellbeing Alliance, whose vision is to work towards a farming sector where mental health and wellbeing are prioritised, supported, and openly discussed, please visit:

Strengthening Resilience in Farming and Agriculture

Please also visit our Resources page where you can download additional free resources including a Spotting the Signs Infographic and a Stress Awareness Factsheet.

Visit our Resources

If the information on this page has resonated with you, and if you or someone you know needs help or support, you can speak to one of the many free, confidential support services below: 

Support Services

How we can support you

Mates in Mind can support your organisation to build a mental health plan and to create a culture of prevention.

Our dedicated team of Support Managers work with organisations of any size to develop a tailored action plan, evaluating your organisation's priorities and gaps, and providing the tools and support you need.

This plan includes ongoing support with communication and delivery of your plan, as well as training opportunities, promotional materials, and a suite of tools (including awareness date resources) to enable you to drive long-lasting and meaningful change.

Find out more about how we can help your organisation build a culture of prevention when you become a Supporter by:

• Visiting our Become a Supporter page.
• Calling: 020 3510 5018.
• Using this contact form.

If you would like to know when we publish new resources, please complete the newsletter sign up at the bottom of this page.

Mates in Mind Supporters

We have additional materials exclusively available for our Supporters:

To download these materials please log in to the Supporter portal, and access your resources:

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