Looking After Ourselves: The Health and Safety Risk we Don’t Always See

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Mathew Beale (FCG WhiteAvon)

A seasonal reminder following World Mental Health Day.

World Mental Health Day took place during October, and it got me thinking about a topic that does not always get talked about enough in farming. When we discuss health and safety on farms, we naturally think about machinery, livestock, moving vehicles, working at height and all the physical hazards we are exposed to every day. Those risks are naturally high, but there is another risk that can be just as significant and often much harder to spot: fatigue.

Not just the physical fatigue of being tired after a long day, but the mental fatigue that can build up over weeks, months or even years of responsibility, decision making and pressure.

It’s not just an employee issue

One thing I think is important to recognise is that fatigue and mental wellbeing affects everyone on the farm. Employees can experience it. Managers can experience it. Farm owners and business partners can experience it too. In fact, those carrying the greatest responsibility can sometimes be the people most likely to ignore the signs.

Many farm owners do not clock off at the end of the day. Even when the machinery is parked or the cows have been milked, there is still plenty going on in the background, and their minds don’t switch off.

The weight of financial uncertainty

One pressure that should not be overlooked is financial uncertainty. Farming has always involved managing risk, but in recent years many businesses have found themselves dealing with increasing levels of uncertainty around support schemes, regulation, input costs and market returns.

The recent Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) application window is a good example. Many farmers and advisers invested considerable time preparing applications only to see the available funding allocated and the window close in a matter of hours. For some businesses, that was not simply frustrating. It created genuine concern around cashflow, planning and future investment decisions.

You can switch off a tractor, but concerns about finances, business viability or the future of the farm can come home with you at the end of the day and sit in the back of your mind long after the working day has finished.

That kind of pressure can be exhausting. Not always physically, but mentally.

The fatigue we don’t notice – Spotting the signs of mental fatigue

Most of us know when we are physically tired. Aching muscles, heavy legs and a desire for an early night are fairly obvious signs. Mental fatigue can be much harder to recognise and it is important to look out for the signs:

  • Finding it harder to concentrate on everyday tasks
  • Becoming forgetful or making unusual mistakes
  • Feeling irritable or losing patience more quickly
  • Putting off decisions that would normally be straightforward
  • Struggling to switch off from work-related worries
  • Poor sleep or feeling tired even after rest
  • Taking shortcuts or unnecessary risks
  • Feeling overwhelmed by workloads, finances or future plans

Why this matters for safety ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Fatigue is not simply about wellbeing. It is a genuine health and safety issue. Most accidents do not happen because somebody deliberately does something unsafe. They happen because somebody is distracted, rushing, not concentrating or simply not thinking as clearly as they normally would.

A tired mind is more likely to miss a hazard, forget part of a procedure, make a poor judgement call or react more slowly when something goes wrong.

Farming can be a lonely place

Let’s be honest, farming is isolating. Many people spend long periods working alone. Problems can stay in our heads longer than they should simply because we do not talk about them. Sometimes a simple conversation over a cup of tea can make more difference than we realise.

Winter is a good time to take stock

With autumn drilling largely complete and a slightly quieter period for many farms, now is a good opportunity to take stock. Not just of machinery and equipment, but of ourselves. Ask yourself: When was the last time I properly switched off? Am I sleeping well? Am I feeling constantly stressed? Am I finding it difficult to concentrate? Have I spoken to anyone about how things are going?

Looking out for each other

One of the strengths of farming has always been the willingness of people to help each other when times are tough. A good health and safety culture is not only about maintaining equipment and following procedures. It is also about looking out for the people around us.

If a colleague seems unusually tired, withdrawn or stressed, take the time to check in with them. If you are struggling yourself, do not assume you need to deal with it alone.

As we move through autumn and into winter, let us remember that health and safety is about more than preventing physical injuries. The condition of our minds is just as important as the condition of our machinery.

We would not ignore a damaged tyre, a damaged PTO guard or a hydraulic leak. We should not ignore the warning signs in ourselves either.

Take care of yourself. After all, the most important asset on any farm is not the machinery, the livestock or the crops in the ground. It is the people.

To discuss the health and safety needs of your farm, please get in touch with Mathew Beale at mathewbeale@fcgagric.com, or your local FCG office.

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