Agriculture is a high risk industrial sector that accounts for approximately one in five of all fatal injuries to UK workers and an estimated 170,000 annual farm worker fatalities worldwide. The main hazards which can have an impact on farm worker safety include machinery, farm animals and working at height. Injuries reported during interactions with these hazards include: fractures, sprains and head injuries. The UK government, the HSE, the National Farmers Union, and many other organisations are keen to reduce injuries and fatalities within the agriculture sector.

The APHF has conducted research to evaluate the non-technical skills utilised by farmers, to explore predictors of those non-technical skills and to examine risk management and decision-making. This research was conducted over a period of nine years, cumulating in the development of the FLINTS (Farmer LIst of Non-Technical Skills) behavioural marker system, which outlines the key safety critical skills that, alongside technical knowledge, are necessary for safe working practice within agriculture.

For full details on our research in this area check out the NTS_Ag website, or you can contact Dr Amy Irwin to discuss.