Farming Talk: Health and safety issues vital for farmers

With burgeoning time pressures, bureaucracy and the basic need of getting the daily farming jobs done, it is often easy to turn a blind eye to some of the potential on-farm risks with the view that you will 'sort them out later.' But do you? All too often we hear of cases where if a simple risk had been highlighted or the correct procedure had been followed, then that costly outcome to repair or claim on the insurance would not have had to happen.

Agriculture continues to have one of the poorest health records of any occupation in the UK. However the industry is working hard to change this. In the 10-year period from 1999/2000 to 2008/2009 a total of 436 people have been killed as a result of agricultural work activities and many more have been seriously injured and suffered ill health.

This means an average of 43 people each year are killed in the industry – almost one death per week. The saddest part is that the majority of these accidents could either have been avoided, or their impact reduced, if sensible health and safety measures had been taken. That is why it is vital that those responsible for running farming businesses are aware of the importance of managing health and safety.

Rising concern over the continuing high level of fatal and life-changing injury accidents on farms prompted the NFU Mutual to actively establish initiatives that will encourage change. The Farm Safety Foundation was set up as a charitable foundation in 2014 to help farmers work safely and reduce the toll of injuries and fatalities which bring heartbreak to numerous families and rural communities every year.

The foundation works closely with Young Farmers clubs, HSE and the Farm Safety Partnerships of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to encourage young farmers aged between 16 and 40 to think about safety. The iconic 'Yellow Wellies Campaign' which asks young farmers to think 'Who would fill your boots?' if something were to happen to them on farm, run by the Farm Safety Foundation, has successfully helped to educate farmers to challenge and change their behaviours to noticeably reduce accidents on farm.

The launch of SafetyHub, an online safety risk management service, is also helping smaller farmers manage risks in their businesses and comply with health and safety legislation.

Stephen Kenyon, Agent, NFU Mutual Welshpool