There is no legal requirement for a business that employs fewer than 5 people to hold written Health and Safety documentation, but there is an increasing demand from assurance schemes, retailers and supermarkets to hold documentation and adopt safe working practices, no matter how many employees you have.

An “employee” does not have to be employed on a full or part-time basis. The term means an individual who enters into or works under a contract of service or apprenticeship with an employer, whether by way of manual labour, clerical work or otherwise, whether this contract is expressed or implied, oral or in writing. It is worth noting that money does not have to exchange hands - it can also be unpaid help.

While this is dependant on the size of your farm and enterprise within it, the starting point for our Farm Health & Safety Service is £550 + VAT per annum.