Why farmers are at risk

HSE describes agriculture as having one of the highest rates of fatal injury of any industry, with vehicles, machinery, falls and livestock the leading causes. OSHA's agricultural guidance adds pesticides, grain bins, heat and noise. Work is often done alone, in all weathers and for long hours, which makes accidents harder to recover from. Many health effects, such as skin damage and lung disease, take years to appear.

01Machinery, vehicles and livestock

Tractor overturns, being struck by moving vehicles, entanglement in power take-off shafts and injuries from cattle are frequent causes of death and serious injury on farms. Fatigue and working alone raise the risk.

What helps

  • Use the safe stop routine: handbrake on, controls neutral, engine off, key out, before leaving a vehicle.
  • Keep PTO guards and machine guards in place and maintained.
  • Handle cattle with proper races and crushes; take extra care with bulls and cows with calves.
  • Tell someone where you are working and when you expect to finish.

02Infections from animals and ticks

Zoonoses are infections passed from animals to people. Ticks in long grass and woodland can transmit Lyme disease, and the NHS describes a circular red rash around a bite as a common early sign. Handling animals, manure and birth products carries other infection risks.

What helps

  • Wear gloves when handling animals, especially at lambing or calving, and wash hands before eating.
  • Check your skin for ticks after working in long grass and remove them promptly with fine tweezers.
  • Cover cuts and seek advice for unexplained fever after animal contact.
  • Pregnant workers should avoid lambing and contact with newborn animals.

03Sun, dust and chemicals

WHO notes that ultraviolet radiation is the main cause of skin cancer, and outdoor workers have high lifetime exposure. Grain, hay and poultry dusts and moulds can cause lung disease such as farmer's lung and occupational asthma, and pesticides need careful handling.

What helps

  • Wear a wide-brimmed hat, long sleeves and sunscreen; seek shade in the middle of the day.
  • Use a suitable respirator for dusty and mouldy jobs, and ventilate buildings.
  • Follow label instructions and wear the specified protective equipment for pesticides.
  • Check your skin each month for new or changing patches.

Weekly checklist for farmers

  • Do the safe stop routine every time you leave a vehicle.
  • Check for ticks after working in long grass or woodland.
  • Wear sun protection whenever you are outside for long periods.
  • Use a respirator for dusty or mouldy tasks.
  • Let someone know your plans when working alone.
  • Take at least half a day off in the week where possible.

When to see a professional

  • A spreading red rash or flu-like illness after a tick bite.
  • Cough, breathlessness or wheeze, especially after dusty work.
  • A new or changing mole or a skin sore that does not heal.
  • Low mood, stress or hopelessness that is not lifting.

Seek emergency help for crush or entanglement injuries, serious bleeding or suspected pesticide poisoning. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call your local emergency number or a crisis line.

Where ONU fits

ONU brings your sleep, activity and recovery trends into one view, which can help you see what long seasonal weeks, such as harvest or lambing, do to your sleep. It does not monitor exposure or diagnose infections or lung disease.

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Common questions

How do I remove a tick safely?

Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool, grasp the tick close to the skin and pull upwards steadily. Clean the area and watch for a rash or flu-like symptoms over the following weeks.

What is farmer's lung?

It is a type of lung inflammation caused by breathing in mould spores from mouldy hay, grain or straw. Repeated exposure can cause lasting damage, so dust control and respiratory protection matter.

Do farmers really need sunscreen every day?

Outdoor workers build up large amounts of ultraviolet exposure over a working life. Covering up with clothing and a hat, plus sunscreen on exposed skin, reduces skin damage.

Sources and further reading

Educational information drawn from the public-health sources listed on this page. It is not a diagnosis, a treatment plan or a guarantee that you will avoid an illness or injury. ONU does not diagnose, treat or prevent disease. Speak to a qualified professional about anything that concerns you, and follow the rules of your employer, sport or local health service.