Three new farm safety initiatives were launched in the UK last week, in a bid to tackle the farming sector’s high levels of injuries and fatalities at work. In the first of the initiatives, NFU Cymru followed its industry summit of last January by signing up to a new Farm Health and Safety Charter for Wales to help raise awareness of the dangers faced when working in the agricultural sector. Agriculture remains statistically the most dangerous industry in the UK.

image expired

The charter aims to follow on from last year’s symposium and encourage industries to work together to find tangible ways of improving farming’s health and safety record. A combination of factors, including long work hours, remote and isolated working conditions, use of heavy machinery, unpredictable livestock and the ageing demographic of Europe’s farmers are all thought to contribute to the sector’s high levels of injuries.  

Speaking at the Charter launch near Welshpool, NFU Cymru president Ed Bailey said, “No-one who has an interest in the farming industry and allied sectors can fail to be appalled and saddened by the number of people tragically killed or injured each year and we have the unenviable track-record of being the most dangerous industry in which to earn a living.

“As a practical farmer I am acutely conscious that farms are inherently dangerous places to work. Because of pressure of time or indeed sometimes, simply because of complacency, we take risks that can and do have awful consequences.”

Mr Bailey expressed satisfaction at the momentum his union’s farm safety campaign had gained and said that the level of commitment shown since last year was encouraging. The campaign has gained the support of the Welsh Government, insurers NFU Mutual, CLA wales, Young Farmers, the Health and Safety Executive and a large number of other government and countryside bodies.

He stated, “Success of course won’t be measured by the number of leaflets we produce, by the campaigns we are engaged in or indeed even by the launch of today’s charter but by the accidents we avert. Our message to every farmer is to come home safe.”

In Northern Ireland, the Health and Safety Executive last week announced it will focus its attention on farm safety over the coming months. Throughout February and March, a ‘Help Initiative’ will see HSENI staff visiting farms to speak directly with farmers and their families. The visits will run concurrently with a TV advertising campaign run by the HSENI.

In the South West of England, a new initiative which was launched last week will teach primary school children about farm and countryside safety. Insurer Cornish Mutual has worked with education experts and health and safety consultants to develop free online teaching resources, which will be made available to schools across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset. Teachers can download lesson plans, posters and practical worksheets covering topics including how to behave around animals, road and rails safety, hygiene, and the Countryside Code.

Tweet