Agricultural work was responsible for 51% of all pipeline infringements in the UK last year, according to a new report.

In the 2025 Linewatch infringement report, the pipeline safety group outlined that this marks a 10% increase from 2024.

The report highlighted that the agricultural sector has been the biggest risk to pipeline safety for nine years running, with fencing ranking as the most common cause of infringements.

Linewatch noted that more than a quarter (26%) of all incidents took place on farmland, which was the most of any location.

In addition to this, the agricultural sector reportedly accounted for four fifths of high-risk pipeline infringements, making it the highest risk to UK infrastructure.

Infringements

Linewatch stated that 49% of all infringements occurred even though the person digging was aware of the underground pipeline, with agriculture responsible for half of these incidents.

The pipeline safety group claimed that this figure "highlights a worrying trend of complacency about the serious dangers of working near pipelines."

Murray Peat, who is a manager at Linewatch, said that it is "hugely concerning" that the agricultural industry remains the "the single biggest risk to the UK’s underground pipeline network" for the ninth year running.

Peat commented: "Not only that, but numbers from this group are actually on the up.

"Whether it is fencing, ditching, or drainage, there is no such thing as a 'low risk' project when high-pressure pipelines are involved," he added.

In 2025, fencing overtook evacuation as the most frequent cause of pipeline infringements, accounting for 23% of all reported incidents.

Out of all the infringements recorded by Linewatch, tree planting caused 6% of them, while ditching and drainage were both responsible for 5% of incidents each.

Advice

Linewatch highlighted that there is a "clear pattern" when it comes to the timings of infringements from the agricultural sector, with incidents much higher in February to April and also August.

The pipeline safety group noted that this "directly correlates with increased seasonal work such as fencing and ditching."

For farmers carrying out this seasonal work, Peat advised landowners and agricultural contractors to use the online Linesearch BeforeUdig (LSBUD) tool, which lets you check for underground and overhead pipes and cables before you dig.

The manager of Linewatch stated: "Always search for pipelines using LSBUD’s free and centralised system before any machinery hits the ground. 

"Doing so will alert the enquirer to the presence of a pipeline in just three minutes – enough time to make a brew while you wait.”