It has often been said that the causes of farm-related accidents have not changed over the past 60 years – livestock, tractors, machinery, falls from height – these have always figured as the top causes of death and serious injury in the industry. Over the last decade or so however, a new four-wheeled threat is rolling onto our farms – the ATV/Quad bike.
With ATVs now featuring as the biggest single cause of work-related fatal injury in agriculture, forestry and fishing in 2024/25 with seven fatalities (including two children) involving the use of an ATV, it would be remiss of us not to focus on the challenges and changes that need to happen to address farming’s latest safety risk.
Several quad bike safety initiatives have been running over the past year in the UK to tackle the issue and encourage farmers to ride safer and we caught up with a few of the organisers…
RSABI & Yellow Wellies #UseYourHead
Carol McLaren, Chief Executive , RSABI
A Scottish hill farmer who narrowly survived a serious quad bike accident sparked a helmet safety campaign in Scotland in December 2024.
Callum Lindsay, from the Isle of Arran, suffered major head, neck and back injuries in October 2024 when his quad bike struck a hidden stone while he was moving sheep during a flood. Thrown from the vehicle and knocked unconscious, Callum lay alone for nearly 40 minutes before regaining consciousness and riding to find a mobile signal to call for help.
After months in a neck brace and battling fatigue from brain trauma, Callum decided to become a vocal advocate for helmet use. “It’s a lifeline tool,” he says. “I don’t get on a bike without one now.”
Callum’s story launched the #UseYourHead campaign, led by rural support charity RSABI in partnership with ourselves the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies). Backed by major Scottish farming bodies, the initiative set out to normalise helmet use on quads all year round.
Carol McLaren, Chief Executive of RSABI explains: “The RSABI team are acutely aware of the impact of farm accidents and a key message which is hitting home in this campaign is that if you choose to not wear a helmet on your quad, you are not just risking your own safety, you are putting your family and the future of your farm business at risk too.
“We have established an influential group of campaign ambassadors, led by Callum. Powerful video content has been important in the campaign, including a video showing it takes less than five seconds to put your helmet on.
“We have also had a member of the Emmerdale cast support the campaign, along with key organisations such as NFU Scotland and the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs and the Farm Safety Foundation have partnered with us every step of the way. The campaign is wide ranging and includes social media, press, helmet giveaways and event competitions. It is very rewarding to hear from farmers who have seen the campaign and decided to commit to wearing their helmets, every time they get on their quad bikes.”
National Association of Agricultural Contractors #WearItAndShareIt
Jill Hewitt, Chief Executive, NAAC
Another organisation who have been proactive in the approach to ATV safety is The National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) who launched a social media campaign to #wearitandshareit in response to frustratingly high number of agricultural fatalities linked to ATVs. The organisation encourages contractors and farmers to put on their helmet and proudly share the image on social media.
According to Jill Hewitt, Chief Executive, NAAC: “The aim is that everyone will start to question if someone is not wearing a helmet and it will become standard practice across the industry.
The campaign has raised awareness and resulted in positive stories where attitudes have changed, dealers have given out helmets and stories of how helmets have potentially saved lives.
However, in 2024-25 there were still a shocking number of agricultural fatalities involving ATVs, so this project is far from complete. We have extended the campaign to include #ifnotwhynot and will continue to explain to the industry that a helmet is a legal requirement if riding an ATV at work. The NAAC will continue to hold the sector to task and question why anyone would not wear a helmet.”
Wales Farm Safety Partnership and the unions #RideSmartFarmSafe
Meleri Jones, WFSP Coordinator
The NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland and Ulster Farmers’ Union have joined forces with the Welsh Farm Safety Partnership (WFSP) to raise urgent awareness about the dangers of ATV accidents on farms during this year’s Farm Safety Week. They are urging farmers to remember these measures:
Always wear a helmet
Training
Vehicle and maintenance checks
Single rider only
The WFSP have also unveiled a comprehensive strategy aimed at improving safety standards across the agricultural sector centring on a three-pronged approach:
- Targeted Education
- Practical Training
- Innovative Outreach
Speaking in unison, the UK farming unions said: “Every year we see lives shattered by preventable ATV accidents, and it’s time for that to change. That’s why we are coming together to send a clear message – safety must always come first. No one plans to have an accident and you never know when one might happen. Whether you’re checking livestock or moving around the farm, the risks are real every time you get on an ATV. It’s vital to take life-saving steps like wearing a helmet, completing proper training, being competent and confident in handling the vehicle and carrying out routine safety checks and maintenance.
Safety must be our first thought and not the last. We all have a responsibility to protect ourselves, our families and our teams to make smart choices on farm. Let’s lead by example, speak up when something’s not right and make sure everyone gets home safe.
Speaking on behalf of the partnership, Meleri Jones, WFSP Coordinator said: “We believe that by combining robust education with practical training and continuous reinforcement, we can embed a strong culture of ATV safety throughout the Welsh agricultural sector. It’s about making safety an instinct, not an afterthought, and ensuring that every farmer returns home safely to their family at the end of each day.”
The WFSP is urging all those working in agriculture to take this message to heart. ATV safety, it says, is not merely a recommendation – it is a vital necessity for safeguarding lives, livelihoods, and the future of farming in Wales.
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