Farmers urged to check insurance for temporary workers

Farmers could face costly claims, fines and prosecutions if temporary workers employed during the busy harvest season are inadequately trained and insured.

Ensuring the correct health, safety, and insurance policies are in place is crucial for safeguarding lives and livelihoods from July through October.

This period marks the most demanding time of the farming calendar, particularly for those involved in root crops and cereals. As a result, extra staff are often employed to manage the increased workload.

While the logistics of harvesting can be overwhelming, the safety of both permanent and temporary staff must not be overlooked.

Conducting thorough health and safety assessments, providing proper training, and establishing clear processes, along with maintaining adequate Employers’ Liability insurance, are essential.

Farming remains one of the most dangerous occupations, with 27 deaths, including that of a three-year-old child, reported last year due to farming and agriculture-related activities, according to the Health and Safety Executive.

Over the past five years, the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector has had the highest rate of worker fatalities—21 times higher than the all-industry average. In the last decade, nearly one person per week has been killed due to agricultural work, with many more seriously injured.

Beyond the trauma and distress for all involved, dealing with accident claims for both fatal and non-fatal incidents can cost thousands of pounds and years of stress and anguish. There is a common misconception that farm insurance policies provide adequate protection for such catastrophic incidents; however, this is not always the case. Farmers should be aware that Employers’ Liability insurance is not automatically included in their policies. Additionally, part-time, casual, seasonal, temporary, and even voluntary workers are considered employees under this coverage.

Farmers have a moral and legal duty to care for all their employees.

To prevent incidents that may lead to claims, we advise all farmers to give temporary workers a thorough induction and comprehensive training, both on-site and online, including HSE guidance and Toolbox Talks for a robust approach to employee safety.

Although not a legal requirement, it is also advisable for farmers to have adequate management liability cover to pay potential HSE incident investigation and intervention costs, which can quickly escalate.

Careful observation of health and safety procedures is essential to protect all employees and the farm’s reputation.

Farmers should never cut corners regarding employee safety. It is strongly recommended that they consult with their trusted insurance partner to ensure they have the right coverage in place to protect all parties in the event of an incident.