Farm Safety Week: HSENI urges NI farmers to prioritise wellbeing and risk awareness
- Love Ballymena
- Jul 21
- 2 min read
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has reaffirmed its commitment to improving safety in the agricultural sector by fully supporting this year’s Farm Safety Week campaign, which runs from 21–25 July 2025.
The campaign, now in its thirteenth year, is spearheaded by the Farm Safety Foundation and seeks to confront the harsh reality that farming remains the most dangerous industry in the UK and Ireland.
With a continued emphasis on raising awareness and changing attitudes within the farming community, this year’s campaign also shines a light on less visible but equally serious health and wellbeing risks.
Speaking at the launch, HSENI Chief Executive Robert Kidd said:
“Farming continues to have the poorest safety record of any industry in the UK and Ireland, but we have made significant strides in raising awareness and encouraging safer practices, particularly among the younger generation.
“Nevertheless, in this thirteenth year of our Farm Safety campaign, we’ll shine a light on less obvious, but equally critical, issues affecting the safety and wellbeing of those who live and work on farms.”
He added:
“HSENI are proud to support the annual Farm Safety Week campaign. Farming is more than a job, it is a way of life, so keeping it safe is a responsibility we all share. Whether new to the industry or farming for years, we all have a role to play in improving the safety record within the farming community.
“There is no acceptable level of serious injuries or fatalities in farming, as each incident affects a family, a farm business and a local community.”
As part of a new Occupational Health campaign, HSENI will also be spotlighting the dangers of:
Agricultural dust
Skin cancer from overexposure to UV rays
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs), which can lead to long-term disability or even death
“These issues can have a devastating effect on farming life and can lead to fatalities,” Mr Kidd warned.
The 2025 Farm Safety Foundation campaign has set out five key objectives:
Challenge and change attitudes towards risk-taking on farms
Share real-life experiences from the past 13 years to promote behavioural change
Emphasise the importance of PPE, especially eye protection
Highlight the safe operation of agricultural vehicles, including quad bikes
Celebrate Farm Safety Heroes from across the UK and Ireland
With the backing of key partners—including DAERA, UFU, NFU Mutual, the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster, and Rural Support—the campaign continues to push for culture change in Northern Ireland’s farming community.
The message is clear: prioritising health, safety, and wellbeing is essential not only to survive—but to thrive—in the agricultural sector.
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