'I lost an arm - complacency can kill in farming'

James Bannister lost his arm in a potato harvesting accident on a farm in 1999

A farmer who lost an arm in an agricultural accident more than 20 years ago says he fears some in the industry are still "complacent" when it comes to safety.

James Bannister has spent much of the last two decades raising awareness about safety in the farming industry after losing his left arm in 1998.

According to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), despite making up just 1% of the working population, farming accounts for nearly 20% of all workplace deaths in the UK.

Mr Bannister said "I used to be blasé about safety but not now. When I do safety talks it's all about the visual impact. They look at me without my arm and they listen."

Warning: This story contains details some readers may find distressing.

The 63-year-old from Doncaster, who works as an agricultural contractor, was harvesting potatoes on 6 August 1998 when the accident happened.

"The last thing I remember around 09:30 BST in the morning is standing between the harvester and the trailer talking to my trailer man and then all I remember is I was fighting the harvester.

"I have no recollection of how or why I got on the machine," he recalled.

"My left arm went through the rollers and pulled me in. My arm was nearly the shape of a W."

"The lad got the machine stopped just as it was biting into my neck."

James was chairman of the National Association Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) from 2022-2024.

A farming friend sat with Mr Bannister and kept him engaged in the field near Retford, Nottinghamshire, as fire and ambulance crews attempted to free him.

"I was about five feet off the ground.

"When they released the pressure on my shoulder, the blood coming from my shoulder was like pouring a jug of water. I can't get that sound out of my mind," he explained.

"I knew by the time I was off the stretcher and inside the helicopter that I'd lost my arm."

The farmer was rushed via air ambulance to the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield and his arm was amputated in a five-hour operation.

"I have a shoulder, just," he joked.

Despite the amputation Mr Bannister was determined to continue working.

"I've never doubted whether I could do the work.

"I still struggle occasionally but I'm fortunate that if I can't do things I can get people to do those jobs," he said.

Despite the life-changing injury, Mr Bannister said he only required a few amendments.

"In a tractor everything is on the right side of me, all the buttons and screens so I can access them all," he said.

The one tweak he has made is adding a knob to his tractor steering wheel for a better grip for his right hand.

Despite his own determination, he was doubted by some, he outlined.

"A farm manager said he wouldn't employ me because I only had one arm. Even though the machine I'd be driving, I'd already been using for two years."

Mr Bannister has continued to work across Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire and is currently contracted to work with 35 different farms.

James has continued his hobbies outside of work, including riding his trail bike

His passion now though is farm safety, regularly delivering talks on the subject within the farming community especially after a stint as chairman of National Association Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) from 2022-2024.

"I'm happy to talk about my accident because if by listening to me it means that changes people's attitudes, it's worth it.

"The safety records on farming is abysmal. Complacency is the biggest issue," he said.

Key stats from the HSE released this year show:

• Twenty-eight people lost their lives on UK farms in 2024/25

• During the past 13 years, there has been an average of 31 fatalities – 27 farm workers and four members of the public, including children

• More than £48m was paid out in accident claims last year alone, said insurer NFU Mutual

After a long career in farming, Mr Bannister said he planned to retire in five years time, aged 68.

Rather than taking it easy, he said he intended to spend more time on his "hobbies away from the farm" which include riding trail bikes and golf.

But he had a word of warning before he stopped work.

"People do these jobs day in day out and they stop thinking about them.

"I take responsibility for my accident. I should have turned the machine off."

"The biggest thing needed is an attitude change," he said.

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