The latest Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures, published in July 2025, confirm what many in the rural sector have long known: agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries in Great Britain.
The 2024/25 reporting year saw 23 worker fatalities in the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector, a number consistent with the five-year average. While construction accounted for a slightly higher total number of deaths, the fatality rate in agriculture is 22 times higher than the average across all sectors.
This data continues to reflect the acute risk involved in working on places like farms, estates, and other rural businesses.
Key Statistics
The 2025 HSE report identifies several enduring trends within agriculture:
- Agriculture (23 deaths) and construction (35 deaths) together accounted for nearly half (47%) of all work-related fatalities.
- Falls from height, contact with moving vehicles, and being struck by objects remain the leading causes of fatal accidents.
- Older workers are at significantly higher risk with 40% of fatalities having occurred among individuals aged 60 and above; considering that in the UK, over 40% of farmers are over 65 and the average age of a farmer is 59, this statistic further highlights the risk and concern for the wellbeing our farming workforce.
- Self-employed workers, who comprise approximately 15% of the rural workforce, represented 40% of all fatalities, highlighting a key vulnerability in smaller and informal operations.
These figures underscore the continued importance of structured risk management and effective legal and insurance protection across the sector to help keep our farmers and their employees safe and protected.
Specialist Cover for Rural Businesses
Rural Protect is a Management Liability insurance designed specifically to address the risk landscape of rural businesses; it is a comprehensive and modern insurance solution that extends well beyond traditional Legal Expenses cover, offering protection against a wide range of sector-specific risks. When looking specifically in relation to accidents, Rural Protect can support business owners by providing and paying for legal support in the event of incidents such as:
- Allegations of negligence or breach of duty
- Health and safety investigations or prosecutions
- Injury claims from members of the public, contractors or employees
The policy provides legal expertise through rradar – a specialist litigation and commercial law firm, helping rural businesses navigate complex claims and investigations with confidence.
To find out more about what Rural Protect has to offer, outside of the support it can provide to help prevent incidents and the legal support it can give should an incident occur, read our blog ‘How can Rural Protect benefit your farming business’.
Rural Protect Accident Case Studies
Recent case studies illustrate how the Rural Protect policy has provided essential support to rural businesses in the case of accidents:
1. Legal Defence: Working Dog Injures Member of the Public
Business Type: Mixed Farming
Section of Cover: Personal Liability
Applicable Cover: Claims against an insured person cover
Circumstance: Working dog allegedly injuring a member of the public.
Legal fees value: £8,074
Situation: A working farm dog caused injury to a member of the public.
Challenge: The incident occurred when the working dog, owned by the insured business, became uncontrollable and attacked a member of the public. The injured party reported the attack, leading to the business owner being interviewed by the police under caution.
Outcome: Following the police interview, the business owner was charged and later found guilty of an offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. As a result, the owner received a one-year suspended sentence.
Fortunately, the business had a Rural Protect policy in place, which meant in this case, the policy provided legal representation to the insured in defending the case. Rural Protect covered the costs of legal counsel, defence, and expert reports required to support the defence. The client only needed to pay their policy excess, with no further financial burden.
Things to Consider: Even when a business is found guilty of an offence, having cover with Rural Protect means there can still be financial support to deal with the legal proceedings for valid claims. With no prospect of success clause in respect of defence matters, Rural Protect is there when it is vitally needed; this is unlike usual Legal Expenses policies, where policyholders need to have a 51% chance or more of winning a case for assistance to be provided.
2. Telescopic Handler Accident
Business Type: Mixed Farming
Section of Cover: Company Legal Liability
Applicable Cover: Investigation costs cover
Legal & Investigation fees value: £21,486
Situation: A farm employee was involved in a workplace accident while operating a telescopic handler.
Challenge: The HSE launched an investigation to determine whether any health and safety regulations had been breached. Upon concluding the investigation, the HSE found that the business had taken all reasonable steps to prevent such an incident and decided not to take further action.
Outcome: rradar, the commercial law firm appointed under Rural Protect, acted for the insured to defend the matter and their costs, as well as the HSE’s Fee for Intervention, were met by Rural Protect.
Things to Consider:
As of 1 April 2025, the HSE has raised the Fee for Intervention (FFI) to £183 per hour. When the FFI scheme was first introduced in October 2012, the rate stood at £124 per hour, meaning we’ve seen an increase of approximately 47% since then. If your business involves employees working with large machinery or equipment that could cause injury, it is essential to ensure they are properly trained to do so, and that health and safety regulations are met. You should also review your insurance policy to confirm it includes appropriate cover in the event of an incident; even though the insured was not found to be at fault and no legal action was taken, the HSE still issued a Fee for Intervention – which was covered under the Rural Protect policy.
Moving from Risk to Resilience
As we know, the agricultural industry operates in an environment of heightened scrutiny and regulatory oversight and the HSE’s latest statistics reinforce the need for:
- Ongoing health and safety training
- Documented risk assessments across all work activities
- Appropriate controls for work at height, machinery use, and livestock handling
- Awareness of liability exposure, particularly for self-employed and contract-based arrangements
- A robust insurance and legal protection framework, especially for those providing advice, consultancy, or professional services within the sector.
Proactive Legal Support and Risk Management included with Rural Protect
Farming businesses insured under the Rural Protect policy receive complimentary access to rradar’s cutting-edge digital tools – as well as their legal expertise and representation should an incident occur and a valid claim be made. These digital tools are designed to educate, guide, and protect farming businesses against the complex legal and regulatory risks that are increasingly common in the rural sector.
Through their expert support and access to digital tools, farming businesses can manage their legal, regulatory and operational risks more effectively.
rradar’s digital tools are made up of three key platforms:
- rradarstation – A comprehensive online legal and risk management resource, offering downloadable templates, guidance notes, policies, and toolkits on issues such as employment law, health and safety, regulatory compliance, contracts, and more.
- rradargrace – An AI-powered legal assistant that provides instant answers to legal questions 24/7, helping you make informed decisions and stay compliant without delay.
- rradarreport – A streamlined platform for reporting incidents or emerging issues, giving early access to legal advisors before a matter escalates into a costly dispute or formal claim. It’s an online accident book that you’ll never forget where you left and is accessible to all your employees should you wish.
Supporting Safer, Smarter Rural Practice
As the rural sector continues to evolve to meet environmental, economic, and social challenges, safety and risk management remain a core part of operations. The HSE’s 2025 figures show that despite improvements in awareness, the risks remain high, particularly for older and self-employed workers.
Rural Protect provides more than just cover; it offers practical tools for managing risks and allows quick response to incidents.
To find out more about Rural Protect or to understand how we can help you, don’t hesitate to contact us on 01653 609152 or at farrm@mcclarroninsurance.com.
