30 farmers killed in farm accidents in less than a year
5th March 2026
30 farmers lost their lives in just 11 months, the National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) has confirmed, as it urged farmers and farmworkers to prioritise safety while carrying out activities on farms.
Most recently, a Suffolk farmer was asphyxiated after falling into a grain silo. HSE confirmed that the accident happened on 2nd March 2026 and is being treated as a work-related death.
A HSE spokesperson said: “We are aware of the incident and investigating alongside Suffolk Police.”
On 17th February, a Devon farmer died after falling off a ladder while trimming hedges on his farm.
Jill Hewitt, NAAC chief executive, said: “This is unbearable, and we have now reached 30 fatalities in 11 months. I can barely comprehend all the people touched by this loss.
“There is little we can say, but think hard about your own safety. Think about your own family, and please do not take unnecessary risks.”
The NAAC is asking its contractor members and the wider farming community to join forces and remind each other that they are all vital by placing stickers in prominent places.
The sticker campaign is aiming to prompt more thinking about safety and remind everyone to act, whether that is always wearing a helmet when riding a quad bike, making sure PTO guards are always in place or perhaps switching off a machine before clearing a blockage.
During the launch, Ms Hewitt said: “It is all too easy when under pressure to think that health and safety is all about paperwork and hassle.
“However, the number of fatal and serious incidents in farming continues to remain stubbornly high, and the NAAC wants to visually remind everyone to protect themselves and colleagues.
“We urge everyone to use these stickers as a heads-up to take that extra time to make sure a job is done safely and get everyone home to their families at the end of the day.”
To obtain stickers, please contact admin@naac.co.uk P&P charges will apply.
READ MORE: LAMMA visitors invited to remember those killed in farming accidents
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