Farmers across the country have been urged to ramp up their efforts to make health and safety a priority in light of this year’s Farm Safety Week campaign.
As part of its work to improve safety across the industry, the National Farmers’ Union has been hosting a series of workshops around the country to advise farmers how simple changes to their farms and businesses can make a big difference.
Now, at the start of Farm Safety Week, NFU vice president Stuart Roberts is urging farmers to take the next step forward to start implementing these changes on their farms.
He said: “There has been an undeniable shift in many farmers’ approach towards health and safety.
The NFU’s safety workshops have really taken off with nearly 900 farmers attending since the beginning of May alone, and it’s fantastic to see so many people getting involved in Farm Safety Week.
“The conversation around health and safety is changing, but as today’s HSE figures have shown, conversation alone isn’t enough.
“Farmers need to put their words into action and commit to making real changes on their farms, such as wearing a helmet when driving an ATV or having a secure escape route when handling cattle.
Effective safety measures are a fundamental part of any successful business. It should not be treated as an add-on or something we do only because we have to, but rather a core part of how we look after ourselves and our businesses.
“And so I want to set two challenges. Farmers – don’t limit safety to just one week. Our businesses run all-year-round, so let’s make sure we work safely all year round too.
“And to every single person that lives on, works on or visits a farm – speak up if you see any unsafe practices. We all have a responsibility to look for risks. Don’t leave it up to someone else.”
According to the HSE, the three main causes were:
- Moving vehicles – 36%;
- Livestock – 23%;
- Falling from height – 18%.
