Farming out the safety message to students (North East)

Date:

23 November 2009

Release No:

NE/418/09

Farm safety is firmly on the curriculum for the new intake of students at Northumberland College at Kirkley Hall, with practical advice and guidance from the Health and Safety Executive.

The latest edition of HSE's free Farmwise guide is being used to get the next generation of farmers to understand the risks they face in what is one of Britain's most dangerous industries, and the simple steps they can take to keep safe.

Though agriculture employs only about 1.5% of the working population it accounts for around 20 per cent of work-related deaths every year. 26 workers lost their lives during 2008/09.

Principal Health and Safety Executive Inspector Richard Bulmer with Northumberland College at Kirkley Hall Animal Management students Sarah Phillips and Katie Higginbottom

Principal HSE inspector, Richard Bulmer, who met students at the college based at Kirkley Hall, said:

"The idea is to stamp out bad working habits before they begin. Tractors, complex machinery, lifting and carrying heavy loads, as well as working from heights, all make the farm a hazardous environment where workers need to take extra care."

Added Martin Howlett, Agricultural lecturer at Northumberland College:

"We consider health and safety on farms a topic of paramount importance and so welcome the input from HSE."

Meanwhile, HSE is gearing up to begin the next phase in its campaign to raise awareness of the dangers in agriculture in a bid to reduce death and injury.

The 'Make the promise. Come home safe' campaign, which launched a year ago, has already generated around 15,000 supportive responses from farmers. The December push will be encouraging more farmers to sign up as well as encouraging those who have, to keep the promise.

Note to editors

1. Farmwise is a free publication and is available from www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg270.htm and from HSE Books: books.hse.gov.uk
2. More than half of all deaths on farms in the last 10 years have been caused by one of three factors:
   • Workplace transport (24 per cent)
   • Falls from height, especially roofs (17 per cent)
   • Being struck by moving or falling objects (15 per cent)
   For more information and advice on improving health and safety in agriculture visit www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture

Press enquiries

Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.

Issued on behalf of the HSE by COI News and PR North East