At Lamma, the National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) is inviting visitors to come into the Contractors Lounge in Hall 19 and take a moment to reflect on the lives lost in the last year.
Since 1 April 2025, 28 people have died in the industry. To acknowledge them, the NAAC will display two pallets with 28 caps, one for each life.
Jill Hewitt, NAAC chief executive, said, “This display is a stark reminder of the accidents that have devastated families across our sector. We encourage contractors and farmers to pause, bring their staff, and reflect on the importance of taking safety seriously.
“Not an uplifting thought perhaps, but an important reminder that we all need to manage safety in agriculture and stop taking unnecessary risks.
“Each cap represents a parent, sibling, child, friend, or colleague. We must learn from these tragedies, strengthen our approach to managing risk, and avoid unnecessary shortcuts. Safety mistakes come at great emotional, financial, and practical cost.”
The display is part of the organisation’s wider safety campaign, which includes stickers with the message ‘I am vital to UK agriculture – stay safe’.
The NAAC notes that effective safety relies on preparation, competent staff, appropriate equipment and robust systems of work. The stickers will act as a reminder to wear a helmet when riding a quad bike, to make sure that pto guards are always in place, or to switch off machines when clearing blockages, amongst other things.
Campaign stickers are available at www.naac.co.uk, where you can find more information on how to support the campaign.