The Livestock Auctioneers’ Association (LAA) has launched the third year of MartSafe, its in-person training programme for livestock market staff.
Originally launched in 2022, the training programme addresses the key responsibilities within livestock markets, providing specialist advice, training and information on best practice.
The course is delivered in-person by an LAA trainer through interactive exercises, practical tasks and video.
Alongside the new mental health awareness training unit, the third year of MartSafe continues to cover the four core training units of animal behaviour, safe handling, people behaviour and animal welfare.
Each unit includes new content such as, low stress handling and the impact on carcass quality, safe handling of machinery and equipment and public perception.
LAA development officer, Zanna Dennis, said: “Since launching the initiative, we have developed the curriculum, year-on-year, incorporating recaps of core topics from previous sessions, whilst adding new and relevant content to the programme, all based around the four key pillars of animal behaviour, safe handling, people behaviour and animal welfare.”
Mental health
Dennis said LAA has been working with the DPJ Foundation this year to include a specialist training unit based around mental health and suicide awareness for market staff.
She said LAA recognises the growing industry crisis and important role market staff play in engaging with and supporting farming communities.
Designed to support market staff to recognise and address the signs of poor mental health or suicide and provide signposts to further professional support, this new module is a key addition, she said.
“Our livestock markets are proven to be a crucial touchpoint for the farming community.
“Quite often the auctioneer, or market staff, are the shoulder to lean on, or the only ear for farmers to share their concerns or anxieties, and often these are concerns hidden from family and colleagues.
“To provide training for our market staff to identify and be aware of issues that may well manifest into something more serious, we feel is a very welcome addition to our training programme.”
Dennis said it also lends itself to the wider issue of safety in the workplace, and looking after yourself.
“We all know that if you are not 100% focussed on the job in hand, and your attention is drawn to wider concerns, this is when accidents are more likely to happen.”
Livestock farmers
Charity manager of the DPJ Foundation, Kate Miles, said the livestock market is a vital hub for livestock farmers and is more than simply a place to trade stock.
“It provides a chance to connect, share concerns and update on the industry,” she said.
“Market staff play a vital role as familiar and trusted faces and are really well placed to notice if someone is not themselves.
“When the LAA asked to work with us on creating their MartSafe module, we jumped at the chance as this is a key way to build confidence amongst market staff and reach more people within the industry.”
Updated every 12 months, the MartSafe Training programme provides LAA member markets with an effective and engaging annual training tool to support markets in creating a safe environment for staff, customers and livestock alike.
LAA said the launch of the third year of MartSafe also aligns closely with the key messaging of Farm Safety Week (July 22-26).
LAA executive secretary, Chris Dodds, said: “Market staff are essential to the smooth operation of the livestock auction market.
“They have a key role in ensuring that the highest standards of animal health and welfare are met at all times, and equally the health and safety of all staff, users and visitors of the livestock market.”
