"We are still not learning from mistakes over the past 30+ years and we still have the highest accident rate of any industry. We need to wake up and realise it could happen to anyone."
On the podcast, we are joined by the Farm Safety Foundation's chair of trustees James Chapman to mark the valued work of the charity and the importance of keeping safe on farms.
If you do not know James, he is a farmer from Warwickshire who has been a passionate advocate for farm safety ever since losing his left arm in a PTO shaft machine back in January 2005.
It is also a very special moment in the farming calendar as the industry marks Farm Safety Week.
The annual initiative from the FSF, also known as Yellow Wellies, is a a moment of reflection and a time for the industry to come together to raise awareness of the need to keep safe on farms.
The Health and Safety Executive confirmed 34 people had been killed in farm-related incidents across Britain during April 2023 and March 2024, with one incident currently under investigation.
The FSF's tenth anniversary conference earlier this year was a time when politicians and farmers discussed the pressures the industry faced and the reasons why incidents still continue to take place on farm.
And they also engaged in debates about the risks and impacts of not keeping safe on farm, and why the industry can do so much more.
During the Conference, Farmers Guardian's reporter Chris Brayford had the opportunity to sit down with James and talk about the work of Yellow Wellies, how the industry can learn from the past, the risks of not being safe on farm and how being involved in a farm incident has changed his life.
Mr Chapman also said the industry cannot afford to make excuses for health and safety despite facing huge challenges.
"We have to understand what makes people tick; why they are working long hours and make the decisions they do," he added.
"Life is not black and white.
"Farming is dangerous.
"We are still not learning from mistakes over the past 30+ years and we still have the highest accident rate of any industry.
"We need to wake up and realise it could happen to anyone.
"Farming is challenging but we should not make excuses for that because everything goes out the window.
"However, I am conflicted because I understand the challenge on farm and the need to get the job done which is the ultimate juggling act.
"We need leadership in the industry and that is why I want to give people confidence to make the right decision and to avoid what happened to me.
"Knowing I might be able to farm again at one stage was really difficult.
"But I am glad to still be alive and here today."
"The amount of people who have been touched by Yellow Wellies is immense," he added.
"Just imagine what we could achieve in another 10 years.
"We have to believe that there is going to be a positive future for health and safety on farms.
"We cannot give up on this and I am determined to not back down without a fight until we change cultures on farm safety."
You can listen to the pod in full below.
