Cockermouth farm safety event aims to cut deaths

Date:

29 October 2010

Release No:

HSE/NW/18Cockermouth

Farmers are being urged to attend a free safety event after new figures revealed an agricultural worker is killed or seriously injured in Cumrbia almost every fortnight.

Statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show there have been nine deaths and 95 serious injuries in the county during the past five years.

The event at Lakeland Livestock Centre in Cockermouth on Tuesday 9 November will offer tips on staying safe. Practical demonstrations will focus on handling livestock, workplace transport, quad bikes, roof work, manual handling and machinery.

Peter Hamer, HSE Agriculture Inspector for Cumbria, said:

"It's shocking that more than 100 agricultural workers have been killed or seriously injured in Cumbria over the past five years. Most injuries could be prevented by taking simple steps to improve safety.

"I hope farmers and agricultural workers from across Cumbria will attend the free safety event in Cockermouth on 9 November to get practical advice and share their experiences.

"Farming is a key part of Cumbria's economy and it's vital that those that work in the industry stay safe."

One in four of all workplace deaths are in agriculture, despite the sector employing less than 1.5 percent of the population.

HSE research has found that the majority of farmers make at least one change to improve health and safety as a result of attending a Safety and Health Awareness Day.

Farmers and agricultural workers are being encouraged to give up half a day on 9 November to attend the free safety event in Cockermouth.

Information on agricultural safety is available at www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture.

Notes to editors

1. The following table lists the number of agricultural deaths and serious injuries in Cumbria during the five years between 2004/5 and 2008/9. Three-day injuries refer to injuries where workers had to take at least three days off to recover.
   
   

   District	Deaths	Major injuries	Three-day injuries
   Allerdale	1	7	14
   Barrow-in-Furness	0	6	5
   Carlisle	4	7	9
   Copeland	0	4	4
   Eden	1	10	7
   South Lakeland	3	9	13
   Cumbria	9	43	52

2. 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. www.hse.gov.uk

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