More Than 4,000 Farm Accidents in Six Months as Poland Expands Safety Education

Poland's Agricultural Social Insurance Fund (KRUS) recorded 4,284 accidents related to agricultural work in the first half of 2026, 3% fewer than a year earlier. Falls remain the biggest problem: they accounted for 49.2% of accidents that resulted in one-off compensation payments. Alongside prevention aimed at farmers, KRUS is expanding safety education for children and young people, including the nationwide 'My Vision Zero' film competition. Safety standards for children living on farms have changed significantly over the years. KRUS now maintains a list of activities that should not be entrusted to children under the age of 16. These include driving agricultural tractors, operating farm machinery and remaining within zones where dangerous equipment is being used. 'This is now a very good standard in Polish farms. We no longer treat farms as playgrounds, but as workplaces governed by safety rules like any other workplace,' Tomasz Ślusarczyk, president of KRUS, told Newseria. He noted that many farms now separate children's play areas from working zones. However, major risks remain, particularly machinery, handling animals, work at height and falls. Ślusarczyk also stressed the importance of fatigue management and hydration. During periods of high temperatures, farmers need to maintain a proper balance between work and rest and ensure they drink enough fluids. Children as safety ambassadors KRUS sees education as one of the most effective ways of reducing risk over the long term. Competitions and prevention programmes are intended not only to teach young people safe behaviour, but also to encourage them to influence adults in their families. 'We would like young people to become our safety ambassadors in their own communities, families and among friends. They can set a positive example for older generations, which may sometimes approach safety rules more casually,' Ślusarczyk said. Daniel Zahorenko, president of AGRO Ubezpieczenia, which has worked with KRUS on prevention initiatives for years, said the level of safety among rural children and teenagers is improving as a result of educational programmes run by KRUS and other agricultural institutions. 'The more children know about hazards, the fewer accidents involving them occur. Education through play and competitions helps build habits that later improve everyday safety on farms,' he said. 'My Vision Zero' accepts entries until 30 September The 'My Vision Zero' film competition is aimed at young people aged 13 to 21, particularly those from rural areas and students at agricultural schools and universities. It forms part of the international Vision Zero prevention strategy promoted by the International Social Security Association (ISSA), of which KRUS has been a member since 1991. Participants are asked to create a short film lasting from 30 seconds to two minutes that promotes safe work on a farm. The entries can be produced using any technique, although most participants use smartphones. The organisers emphasise original work and do not allow stock footage or AI-generated material. The films should refer to the three pillars of Vision Zero — safety, health and wellbeing — and its seven Golden Rules: take leadership and demonstrate commitment; identify hazards and control risks; define targets and develop programmes; ensure a safe and healthy system; ensure safe machinery, equipment and workplaces; improve qualifications and develop competence; and invest in people and motivate through participation. 'Young people communicate very effectively through images. Their films do not end up in a drawer — we try to use them later in prevention activities so that farmers are continually reminded of the rules that matter most,' said Elżbieta Oppenauer, KRUS spokesperson. Entries are open until 30 September 2026. The competition is held under the honorary patronage of Poland's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. KRUS is the organiser, with partners including the agriculture ministry, AGRO Ubezpieczenia, the Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture, the National Support Centre for Agriculture and the National Labour Inspectorate. Source: Newseria and KRUS.