Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SafeHabitus (STRENGTHENING FARM HEALTH AND SAFETY KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION SYSTEMS)
Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-06-30
Context: Farming is one of Europe’s most dangerous occupations, with a fatality rate 233% higher and an accident rate 18% higher than other industries. These figures likely underestimate the issue due to underreporting and lack of investigation. Improving health and safety in farming requires empowering farmers and workers to adopt safer practices. SafeHabitus, a multi-actor project, aims to strengthen Farm Health and Safety Knowledge Innovation Systems (FHS KIS) and promote social sustainability in farming. It uses innovative methods such as digital storytelling, multi-actor approaches to co-design risk management tools, foresight analysis, and policy benchmarking. The project connects stakeholders, researchers, and end-users across eleven national Communities of Practice, representing diverse EU countries and sectors. SafeHabitus also collaborates with European bodies to bridge EU and regional actors, influencing policies and advancing safer farm practices throughout the EU.
Objectives
1. Establish a multi-actor network of EU farmers and farm workers, farming organisations, farm advisors, policy stakeholders, researchers, and other relevant actors, driven by 11 national/regional Communities of Practice (COPs) representing a variety of countries and sectors and focused on co-creating knowledge and solutions that improve farmers’ and farm workers’ health, safety and quality of life [WP2].
2. Improve the understanding and awareness by policy makers, farmers organisations, trade unions and health authorities of farmers’ and farm workers’ health and safety at work [WP2 - 6].
3. Identify the implications of farmers’ and farm workers’ perceptions of their work on the future of the sector and hence on long-term food security [WP4].
4. Explore the potential of corporate social responsibility initiatives and bottom up innovations that enhance farmer and farm worker health and safety [WP3 - 5].
5. Develop recommendations for better performing European and national policy, and governance frameworks favouring safer and more inclusive working environments for farmers and farm workers [WP6]
State of the Art: SafeHabitus adopts a place-based, multi-actor approach (MAA) to tackle farm health and safety (FHS) challenges at local, regional, and EU levels. Recognizing the influence of social, cultural, and environmental factors on daily farming practices, SafeHabitus develops tailored solutions co-designed with farmers, farm families, and farm workers. Central to its mission is strengthening Farm Health and Safety Knowledge Innovation Systems (FHS KIS) to drive a transition to social sustainability in farming. The project prioritizes systematic change by placing farmers at the center, supported by a collaborative network of stakeholders. Through CoPs), SafeHabitus identifies priority FHS challenges, co-creates innovative tools, and shares good practices across the EU. It addresses critical issues such as improving working conditions, data gaps, and the attractiveness of farming.
Objectives
1. Establish a multi-actor network of EU farmers and farm workers, farming organisations, farm advisors, policy stakeholders, researchers, and other relevant actors, driven by 11 national/regional Communities of Practice (COPs) representing a variety of countries and sectors and focused on co-creating knowledge and solutions that improve farmers’ and farm workers’ health, safety and quality of life [WP2].
2. Improve the understanding and awareness by policy makers, farmers organisations, trade unions and health authorities of farmers’ and farm workers’ health and safety at work [WP2 - 6].
3. Identify the implications of farmers’ and farm workers’ perceptions of their work on the future of the sector and hence on long-term food security [WP4].
4. Explore the potential of corporate social responsibility initiatives and bottom up innovations that enhance farmer and farm worker health and safety [WP3 - 5].
5. Develop recommendations for better performing European and national policy, and governance frameworks favouring safer and more inclusive working environments for farmers and farm workers [WP6]
State of the Art: SafeHabitus adopts a place-based, multi-actor approach (MAA) to tackle farm health and safety (FHS) challenges at local, regional, and EU levels. Recognizing the influence of social, cultural, and environmental factors on daily farming practices, SafeHabitus develops tailored solutions co-designed with farmers, farm families, and farm workers. Central to its mission is strengthening Farm Health and Safety Knowledge Innovation Systems (FHS KIS) to drive a transition to social sustainability in farming. The project prioritizes systematic change by placing farmers at the center, supported by a collaborative network of stakeholders. Through CoPs), SafeHabitus identifies priority FHS challenges, co-creates innovative tools, and shares good practices across the EU. It addresses critical issues such as improving working conditions, data gaps, and the attractiveness of farming.
1. Communities of Practice (CoPs) have engaged 490 stakeholders, including farmers, public organisations, researchers, educators, and private actors. These groups actively participate in various project initiatives, ensuring diverse perspectives and practical insights are integrated into project activities.
2. SafeHabitus established connections with Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and governance stakeholders across CoP countries, highlighting farm safety data gaps to Farm Accountancy Data Networks (FADNs). The European Policy Forum (EPF) enabled knowledge exchange among policymakers, unions, and safety authorities. Five key policy recommendations to improve farm accident statistics and governance frameworks were presented to the European Commission.
3. SafeHabitus hosted a Working Group at the European Society for Rural Sociology Congress to address social sustainability in farming. Discussions focused on challenges to improving working conditions for farmers, particularly migrant workers, fostering engagement among NGOs and policy stakeholders.
4. Two Transnational CoP meetings and a Summer School facilitated good practice sharing and knowledge exchange. Workshops showcased Ireland’s farm safety initiatives and explored stakeholder engagement strategies, informing a Priority Needs Register and strengthening CoP collaboration across the EU.
5. Three workshops, including virtual and in-person events, engaged over 360 participants. Topics included mental health, well-being, and working conditions for migrant workers. Policy recommendations were discussed in forums with MEPs and EU stakeholders, advancing support for safer and healthier agricultural workplaces.
2. SafeHabitus established connections with Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and governance stakeholders across CoP countries, highlighting farm safety data gaps to Farm Accountancy Data Networks (FADNs). The European Policy Forum (EPF) enabled knowledge exchange among policymakers, unions, and safety authorities. Five key policy recommendations to improve farm accident statistics and governance frameworks were presented to the European Commission.
3. SafeHabitus hosted a Working Group at the European Society for Rural Sociology Congress to address social sustainability in farming. Discussions focused on challenges to improving working conditions for farmers, particularly migrant workers, fostering engagement among NGOs and policy stakeholders.
4. Two Transnational CoP meetings and a Summer School facilitated good practice sharing and knowledge exchange. Workshops showcased Ireland’s farm safety initiatives and explored stakeholder engagement strategies, informing a Priority Needs Register and strengthening CoP collaboration across the EU.
5. Three workshops, including virtual and in-person events, engaged over 360 participants. Topics included mental health, well-being, and working conditions for migrant workers. Policy recommendations were discussed in forums with MEPs and EU stakeholders, advancing support for safer and healthier agricultural workplaces.
Eurostat data for 2012-2020 shows an average of 315 ± 36 fatal and 126,817 ± 16,390 non-fatal farm injuries annually in the EU which equates to (2012 to 2021), an incidence rate 1,653 non-fatal injuries and 4.1 fatalities per 100,000 workers. The accuracy of these statistics is questionable due to the exclusion of self-employed and family workers' injury data in some Member States. Research undertaken in SafeHabitus estimates annual rates of 545 fatalities and 206,000 non-fatal injuries to those working in the industry.
Case studies in Finland and Ireland examined data collection and its use in promoting farm health and safety. These case studies demonstrate the benefits of comprehensive data collection and reporting systems.
Case studies in Finland and Ireland examined data collection and its use in promoting farm health and safety. These case studies demonstrate the benefits of comprehensive data collection and reporting systems.