New DVD compilations: Vehicle Safety on Farms and Child Safety

HSE has recently produced the following two DVD compilations:

Vehicle safety on farms – training films to improve transport safety on the farm

This DVD compilation of five HSE training films that look at safety with farm vehicles, plus a series of short Worksmart stories that have appeared on HSE’s website. The film contains English and Welsh subtitles.

• Riding for a fall (14 mins) – just one or two days on an all terrain vehicle (ATV) training course can offer farm workers the skills to ride ATVs safely. This film features dramatic reconstructions and real life cases to emphasise the need for training to ensure safe driving of these vehicles.
• A ridge too far (10 mins) – is a useful reminder of basic ATV safety procedures. It covers the importance of checking tyre pressures, steering and brakes, how to load an ATV, towing trailers, stability and negotiating steep hillsides safely.
• Fatal traction (12 mins) – is a hard-hitting film, not recommended for younger viewers. It highlights the danger and gives practical advice to those working in agriculture and forestry on how to avoid them. It includes graphic reconstructions of fatal accidents and interviews with families of victims and gives examples of simple control measures that can help reduce the risks.
• Tractor action (17 mins) - is a gritty and realistic film describing safe working practices for tractor operation. It is aimed at younger workers but is also of value to any users of tractors or tractor-operated machinery.
• Safe Driving on slopes (19 mins) – informs and instructs people working in agriculture about the dangers and safe methods of driving farm vehicles and machinery on slopes, a major cause of injuries and fatalities in the farming industry.

Kidsafe – a compilation of child-safety training films

This compilation of child-safety films is ideal for teachers of both primary school pupils and young secondary school children. It will also be useful to youth clubs and employers, farmers, construction firms, parents and other relatives. It consists of two films previously only available on video from HSE plus a series of short Worksmart clips that have been available to view on HSE’s website. In addition, it contains a film from HSE Northern Ireland (HSENI) aimed at young children.

• Dangerous playground (13 mins) – provided by HSENI, this film is set on a farm where the characters are younger and is ideal for primary/first school pupils.
• Safe! Helping children to stay safe on the farm (14 mins) – Josh, Tanya and Alex (these characters are aged about 11) lead viewers around the farm pointing out all the potential dangers including moving vehicles, water, slurry pits, hat stacks, animals and machinery
• Game over (9 mins) – is designed to keep children off building sites. Aimed at 7-11 year olds, the film is in two parts. The first is a drama about three children who go onto building sites with disastrous results. The second part gives a rundown of other hazards that could harm them and reinforces the message ‘never go on a building site’.

The DVD also features 18 Worksmart stories involving children telling stories in their own way and covers agriculture, construction, railway and falls from height. These 45-second mini-documentaries feature stories about accidents, near misses, hazards and risks to health and safety in the workplace. They have a lot of impact and while they may sometimes be sad and moving, they are thought-provoking and positive in their message.

Both DVD compilations are available from HSE Books (http://books.hse.gov.uk) at a price of £25.00 each plus VAT. Vehicle safety on farms ISBN 978 0 7176 6252 4. Kidsafe ISBN 978 0 7176 6221 0.