Brian Rees honoured with MBE for farm safety work

A once long-standing IOSH member, who’s worked to improve poor safety levels in the UK farming industry for 40 years, was recognised in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026.

Brian Rees awarded MBE for services to farm safety

Brian Rees, a farm safety trainer from near Llandrindod Wells, in Powys, Wales, has been made an MBE for his services to farm safety.

Born into a livestock farming family in Wales, Brian gained a passion for health and safety working with young farmers clubs and later the National Farmers’ Union and Country Land and Business Association.

He continued to combine full-time farming with training before launching a farm training consultancy with his teacher wife, Janet, in the 1990s.

Though now retired, Brian played a pivotal role in organising and delivering Safety and Health Awareness Days (or ‘SHADs’) for thousands of farmers across Great Britain, a part he took on from 2001. As a former chair and member of the Farm Safety Partnership in Wales, Brian’s combined passion for and practical knowledge of farm safety has helped gain much-needed Welsh Government support for training in the industry.

His other honours include a Lantra Wales Lifetime Achievement Award and being named a Farm Safety Hero by charity Yellow Wellies, in June 2023, when he was profiled by IOSH magazine.

Dedicated

Alan Plom, a veteran in the fight to improve farm safety and also a former long-serving IOSH volunteer, took to LinkedIn on hearing of Brian’s New Year Honour with the comment: “Brian’s enthusiasm , knowledge and contacts were put to good use by IOSH when he served with me for six years on the committee of the IOSH Rural Industries community in the 2010s.”

IOSH President Richard Bate has made it clear agricultural safety is a key area for IOSH in 2026.

Do you know of another IOSH member to be recognised in the King’s New Year Honours List this year? If so, please let us know by emailing media@iosh.com.

Last updated: 09 January 2026