Growing Safely - The IOSH Rural Industries Conference, November 2025

Landwards Editor Andy Newbold Hon FIAgrE in conversation with :

Richard Bate, newly elected IOSH president, discussed the importance of education, mental health, and environmental change in the rural industries community. He highlighted that despite being only 1% of the workforce, rural industries account for over 20% of workforce deaths. Bate emphasized early education and engagement with children to foster risk management skills. He shared a statistic that globally, 157 people die every 25 minutes. Sam Downer from Mates in Mind stressed the need for effective mental health support in farming communities. Mike Whiting, chair of IOSH's rural industries group, reflected on the successful Growing Safely conference, which covered topics like drones, AI, and mental health.

Action Items

• Maintain and develop the liaison between the Rural Industries Group and HSE (via Wayne Owen) to ensure a clear contact route for regulatory support
• Continue planning future Rural Industries Group conferences and events (venue, speakers and programme), building on the Growing Safely conference template
• Focus the IOSH presidency on improving safety in rural sectors for the forthcoming year, including promoting education and environmental change discussions
• Develop and publish the agri wellbeing alliance website and provide resources and signposting for mental‑health support and accidental counsellor training

Richard Bate's Inaugural Speech and Key Themes

• Andy Newbold introduces Richard Bate, the new president of IOSH, and mentions the focus on rural industries.
• Richard Bate discusses his three main themes: education, mental health and well-being, and environmental change.
• Richard emphasises the importance of discussing environmental change despite its polarising nature.
• Andy Newbold and Richard agree on the reality of changing weather patterns and their impact on agriculture.

Statistics and Education in Rural Industries

• Richard Bate shares a startling statistic: rural industries are responsible for more than 20% of workforce deaths despite being only 1% of the workforce.
• Richard stresses the need to reframe discussions around statistics and engage with children early on health and safety.
• Richard recounts a personal story about a farmer's aggressive response to safety advice, highlighting the need for support and education.
• Andy Newbold and Richard discuss the importance of contextualizing safety issues and the role of parents in building risk management skills in children.

Sam Downie from Mates in Mind

• Andy Newbold introduces Sam Downie from Mates in Mind, a charity focused on mental health in higher-risk sectors.
• Sam emphasizes the importance of having conversations about mental health and the need for support networks.
• Sam provides contact information for Mates in Mind and encourages listeners to seek help if they are struggling with their mental well-being.

Technology and Safety in Agriculture

• Mike Whiting discusses the role of technology, such as AI and predictive maintenance, in enhancing safety in agriculture.
• Andy Newbold and Mike emphasize that while technology is an enabler, the focus should be on how it is used and interacted with.
• The conference included a session by John Deere on the benefits and challenges of agri-tech and autonomy.
• Mike reflects on the success of the conference, the positive feedback from attendees, and the importance of continued collaboration and support.