Keeping alive - a new year's resolution for farmers in the East of England

Date:

15 January 2010

Release No:

HSE/E/47

Calling a 'holt' to farm accidents

Farmers across the East of England are being encouraged to make their New Year's resolution a promise to come home safe from the field.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is launching the next phase in its 'Make the Promise' campaign with the stark message that people are still dying in needless farm accidents.

Farmer George Harcourt makes the promise with HSE Inspector John Elvin

Across Great Britain, 38 workers lost their lives in farming-related incidents from January to November 2009 (see Notes to editors).

Recently finalised figures for 2008/09 show that one worker died in the East of England and and 74 were seriously injured.

More than 1700 farmers in the East England have already signed up to the campaign and George Harcourt who runs his farm in Field Dalling, near Holt is leading the bid for more farmers in the region to now do the same.

George said: 'This is an important campaign which reminds all of us to make a simple promise, to come home safe. The winter months are a particularly dangerous period in the farming calendar with farmers working during hours of darkness and poor weather conditions increasing the risks. It's especially important during this period not to cut corners. I will certainly be making this one of my personal resolutions.'

George Harcourt shows his promise knots

Judith Donovan, HSE board member and its agriculture champion, said:

"For those 15,000 farmers we know have made the promise to come home safe, and the many more who may have made the pledge privately, the challenge for them now is to keep it, particularly when they're battling the weather or working to tight timescales. Losing concentration or taking seemingly harmless shortcuts is when horrific accidents can happen."

"To those farmers yet to make the promise, we encourage them to do it not only for themselves, but for their family and their livelihoods.

"Over the last 10 years, 455 lives have been lost on British farms - that's hundreds of families and farms devastated. Let's make 2010 the year that everyone comes home safe."

James Chapman, Vice-Chairman, National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs commented:

"The National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs has proudly made the promise, to come home safe. Encouraging farmers to work safely has always been one of our key priorities and, during 2010, we will be working closely with the HSE to promote the campaign in our groups across the country.

"I know only too well what can happen when safety isn't put first. A few years ago, I lost my left arm when it was caught in an unguarded PTO shaft. It only happened because I, like many farmers, was working under pressure trying to get a job done as quickly as possible."

Simon Longbottom, Head of Operations, East of England added:

"Sadly, we all too often find ourselves investigating deaths and serious injuries in and around farms in the East of England. We see first hand the terrible grief that families face when someone is seriously hurt,and it is heartbreaking - particularly when it keeps happening for the same reasons.

"We offer farmers awareness training and guidance on how to keep themselves and their workers safe. We'd far rather be doing this than dealing with the horrific consequences of accidents, most of which are preventable."

Although only about 1.5 per cent of the working population works in agriculture, the industry accounts for one in five work-related deaths every year.

NFU East Anglia senior policy adviser Paul Hammett added: 'Farm accidents have a devastating impact on families, farm businesses and the community around them. We know that farms are extremely busy, pressurised places and the cold spell has only added to that pressure. But we also know that many accidents are preventable if everyone is aware of the risks involved. That's why we support this initiative and want the message to reach everyone with the farming community.'

As part of the campaign, farmers can request 'Promise Knots' to place around their homes and farms as a simple, but ever-present reminder of the commitment they have made to come home safe.

Notes to editors

1. From 1 January to 3 November 2009, there were 38 work-related deaths as a result of farm incidents. This figure is sourced from HSE's operational database and therefore may be subject to modification. The most recent official figures were published by the Office for National Statistics and cover the 2008/09 period in which there were 26 work-related fatalities in agriculture. For more information visit www.hse.gov.uk/statistics
2. HSE is working closely with the industry to help it reduce the number of work-related deaths and injuries. HSE produces health and safety guidance for farmers, organises free health and safety awareness days, provides information and advice through farm visits, by telephone and at agriculture shows. It also monitors the health and safety performance of the industry and, where necessary, takes enforcement action against employers who endanger lives.

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