Dunmow event to help reduce death and injury in farming

Date:

24 June 2010

Release No:

HSE-E-13

Around 150 farmers across Essex will be attending a free event tomorrow (24 June) aimed at helping reduce the number of deaths and injuries in agriculture.

The Safety and Health Awareness Day (SHAD), run by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is being held at Lawn Hall Farm in Dunmow, courtesy of Strutt and Parker.

Qualified instructors will give practical demonstrations based on the most common accident scenarios such as those involving chemicals, falls from height and machinery blockages, giving guidance on how to prevent them.

Farmers will be able to take away information packs and will have the opportunity to ask HSE inspectors questions.

Fatalities and serious injuries on farms have declined in recent years, but farming is still one of the most dangerous occupations. In 2008/2009, 26 people in the UK died in agricultural accidents. Meanwhile 1,500 people each year are seriously injured.

In the East of England, one worker died and 74 were seriously injured.

Eddie Scoggins HM Principal Inspector of Health and Safety said: "These demonstrations are designed to show just how easily accidents can happen. They will give farmers a clear message about the precautions they need to take to help protect themselves, their families and employees from harm.

"Farming is a dangerous occupation. Thousands of people every year suffer injuries or ill health, which prevents them from carrying out their normal work. This has a huge effect on the agricultural industry.

"This event will give farmers practical advice from people in the farming industry and help them identify common hazards relevant to their own farms. We expect that farmers will put into practice safe systems of work demonstrated at the event."

Attendees will receive a copy of Farmwise, the HSE's comprehensive guidance booklet, with a self-assessment CD and a selection of other relevant HSE guidance leaflets.

Notes to editors

1. For advice and guidance on agriculture-related health and safety issues visit www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture
2. The SHAD will be split into two half-days sessions and will take place Hall Farm, Lawn Hall Chase, North End, Dunmow, Essex. CM6 3PN
3. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement.
4. Similar events focussing on agricultural, arboriculture and the woodworking industries have been run by the HSE over the last few years. They have been particularly successful in attracting small businesses to learn of the health and safety risks they face every day at work.
5. Information on health and safety and the agricultural sector is available on the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/index.htm
6. For further details of latest HSE statistics in the East of England, see the summary of statistics of occupational ill health, safety and enforcement 2008/09 at http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/regions/east/index.htm

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Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) by COI News and PR East