BBC Countryfile presenter hosts farm safety event

Date:

4 November 2011

Release No:

HSE/8/SW

Farmer and BBC Countryfile presenter Adam Henson, has helped to get important safety messages out to farmers in the Gloucestershire area by hosting a free training event at Cotswold Farm Park on Tuesday 1 November.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) event, filmed by Countryfile, attracted 250 farmers looking to get to grips with health and safety in one of Britain's most dangerous industries. They observed practical demonstrations on workplace transport including trailer braking and maintenance and use of all-terrain vehicles, as well as roof work and livestock handling.

Nearly 8,000 places are being made available at HSE's Safety and Health Awareness Days (SHADs) across Britain, with the aim of cutting the number of deaths and injuries in future.

Many farmers have found these events to be useful: 95 per cent of the 1,300 farmers surveyed after attending last year's safety events said they would recommend them to others. Around three quarters also said the events had greatly increased their understanding of the potential causes of accidents and the actions they could take to prevent deaths and injuries.

Figures from HSE show, on average, between 40 and 50 people are killed on British farms every year, despite there being less than 1.5 percent of the population working in the industry.

Countryfile previously covered HSE's 'Make the Promise' campaign which encouraged farmers to put their safety first, showing the life-changing injuries that can occur when they take short cuts.

Said Adam Henson:

"From going to several HSE events in the past, my awareness of the number of incidents and fatalities on farms has grown and it horrifies me. So, when I was told about safety and health awareness days I offered to host one on my farm and to cover it on Countryfile.

"I am always talking to young people about what an exciting industry farming is and trying to encourage them to get into it, but when you then have to tell them that farming is also the most dangerous industry, it takes the cream off the cake.

"We have to get away from the culture of thinking health and safety is something that hinders our day-to-day work, because the fact is that farms are dangerous places and we all need to do something about it, and these safety events are a good way to get advice which farmers can put into practice straight away."

HSE board member and agricultural champion Sandy Blair was also at the event:

"Farmers have told us that they get a lot out of these events and it was encouraging to see so many take part. The demonstrations are given by trainers who are often farmers themselves.

"Many farmers are self-employed or run small family businesses so we want to give them information and advice to help them protect themselves and their livelihoods. These events offer simple tips that won't cost a lot to put into practice and could even help to boost productivity. They are also an opportunity to catch up with other local farmers and share industry knowledge.

The Countryfile episode featuring the SHAD at the Cotswold Farm Park is scheduled to be broadcast on BBC 1 on Sunday 20 November.

Notes to editors

1. 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
2. Figures covering the last five years show eight in every 100,000 farmers are killed at work in Great Britain every year, compared to the average figure for workplace deaths of eight in every million.

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Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News and PR (South West)