Farm Safety Week 2026
Today marks the start of Farm Safety Week 2026, taking place from Monday 20 July to Friday 24 July. This is the 14th annual Farm Safety Week. Diana van Doorn, Teagasc Research Officer, and Francis Bligh, Teagasc Health and Safety Specialist, tell us what we can expect this year.
Farm Safety Week is a UK & Ireland awareness campaign organised by the UK-based charity Farm Safety Foundation, also known as Yellow Wellies. The campaign runs in England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, with farming organisations taking the lead.
The week provides an opportunity to focus on practical actions that can help reduce injuries and fatalities, while also recognising the wider impact that farm accidents have on farmers, families and rural communities.
Teagasc will be strongly supporting Farm Safety Week and will be sending clear messages to the farming community based on this year’s themes through its communication channels and at advisory events.
The daily themes of the event this year are:
- Monday 20 July – The Launch – Highlighting the devastating impact of life-changing injuries on farms
- Tuesday 21 July – The Impact – Serious injury statistics aren’t abstract – behind each accident is a life changed forever
- Wednesday 22 July – The Response – No Time to Lose: The Reality of Responding to Farm Accidents
- Thursday 23 July – The Action – If you want to make a change, you have to be the change – but how?
- Friday 24 July – The Heroes – Celebrating the people driving safety forward
Why farm safety?
Data from the Health and Safety Authority shows farming is Ireland’s most dangerous occupation. It accounts for just 4% of the workforce, but 40% of all workplace deaths. On average, 18 people are killed on Irish farms each year. Vehicles, livestock and falls are the main causes.
Vulnerable people on farms
Some people on farms are more vulnerable than others. Health and Safety Authority statistics show that 33% of all workplace fatalities in 2025 involved people aged 65 years or over, while 40% involved self-employed workers. These groups are particularly relevant to agriculture, where many farmers continue to carry out physically demanding and high-risk tasks, often while working alone. Unlike most workplaces, farms are also homes, bringing children and other family members into regular contact with workplace hazards.
Teagasc focus on Farm Safety Week
Farm safety traditionally focuses on hazards such as machinery, livestock, vehicles, and work organisation. This approach remains essential. However, farm safety is about more than the hazard itself. Increasingly, research is showing that factors such as health, wellbeing, sleep, fatigue and stress can influence how safely farmers carry out everyday tasks and manage risk on the farm.
This broader understanding of farm safety, health and wellbeing will be reflected in our Farm Safety Week coverage.
Farm Safety Week articles on Teagasc Daily
Teagasc Daily will feature contributions throughout the week from Diana van Doorn, Research Officer for Farm Safety, Health and Wellbeing, Francis Bligh, Teagasc Health and Safety Specialist, and Sherin Saji, Walsh Scholar. Together, they will explore different aspects of farm safety, health and wellbeing, including the links between farmer health and safety, the impact of injuries on families, child safety, and the importance of emergency preparedness and response.
Farm safety is about more than preventing accidents
Farm safety is about protecting lives, supporting families, maintaining productive farm businesses and ensuring that farmers can continue to work safely throughout their lives. Whether it is carrying out a risk assessment, maintaining machinery, improving livestock handling facilities, looking after your health, or preparing for emergencies, small actions can make a big difference.
Farm safety is a shared responsibility
Teagasc works with farmers, government agencies, industry stakeholders and community organisations to improve safety, health and wellbeing across the sector. Teagasc also supports initiatives led by organisations including AgriKids and Embrace FARM. Together, these activities play an important role in promoting safer farming and supporting farm families.
Follow Farm Safety Week on Teagasc Daily and follow the hashtag #FarmSafetyWeek on social media throughout the week as we share research, practical advice and insights to help create safer, healthier and more sustainable farms.