Farm safety campaign highlighted in Northern Ireland

Safety & Health Practitioner

 

The Farm Safety Partnership, which published its 18-month plan of action to tackle farm safety in November 2012, aims to reduce work-related fatalities on farms. 

 

In March 2013, the Farm Safety Partnership launched a farm safety campaign: ‘Stop and Think SAFE’, which focuses on the four main causes of death and injury on farms  – slurry, animals, falls and equipment (SAFE). 

 

The HSENI has stated that while there is evidence of more positive attitudes towards farm safety through ongoing discussions with local farms and farming bodies, more needs to be done to address the culture of risk-taking that exists within some of the farming community.

 

HSENI’s chief executive Keith Morrison urged everyone involved in the farming industry to continue to play their part in making Northern Ireland’s farms safer places to work and live on.

 

“There were four confirmed farming fatalities during 2013 and while statistically this represents a welcome decrease from 12 deaths in both 2012 and 2011, these are four deaths too many, causing heartache and devastation for the immediate families and the wider farming community,” he said.

 

He urged those involved in the farming industry to increase their efforts to make safety a priority for Northern Ireland’s farmers. 

 

Mr Morrison continued: “To drive this work forward, a follow up to the Farm Safety Partnership’s action plan will launch later this year to outline further key actions to reduce death and serious injury on our farms.

 

“In the meantime, programmes like HSENI’s farm safety visits will continue to play an important part in the drive to help farmers take effective steps to improve safety on their farms. I’d urge all farmers to take on board the important safety advice that is on offer.”

 

The Farm Safety Partnership and the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee are organising a farm safety event at Parliament Buildings in Belfast on 14 January.  The event will include demonstrations around the ‘Stop and Think SAFE’ campaign, such as highlighting the dangers of unguarded PTO shafts.