Farmers flock to attend safety event in East Yorkshire

Date:

3 October 2011

Release No:

Y&H/143/11

Farmers are queuing up to attend free safety events in Burton Constable to help them get to grips with health and safety in one of Britain's most dangerous industries.

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

The East Yorkshire day has been organised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) with sessions delivered by experienced farmers themselves. It takes place at Burton Constable Foundation, Holderness, on 14 October. More than 200 have signed up for either the morning or afternoon sessions but a few places are still available.

Of the 1,300 farmers surveyed after attending one of last year's safety events, 95 per cent said they would recommend them. 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.

The number killed on farms every year is between 40 and 50 - the highest in HSE's main industrial sectors, including construction. In Yorkshire & the Humber, there were seven agricultural deaths between April 2008 and March 2010, and more than 300 workers were hurt, many with major injuries.

Practical demonstrations at the event in Burton Constable will focus on workplace transport, manual handling, roof work and ladders, safe maintenance of machinery, chemicals and the use of quad bikes.

HSE Inspector Tim Johnson, who leading the event, said:

"Many farmers are self-employed or run small businesses so we want to make sure they're not putting themselves, family and visitors, as well as their livelihoods, at risk with poor health and safety.

"We have farmers taking sessions and they are familiar with the issues and challenges facing their colleagues today. We'll be offering expert, simple tips targeted at key risks that won't cost a lot to put into practice and could even help to boost productivity. The events are also an opportunity to catch up with other local farmers and share industry knowledge.

"It's an alarming statistic that farmers are ten times more likely than most workers to be killed while at work. I'd encourage them to give up half a day of their time to come along to the event."

Farmers can arrange to attend the morning or afternoon events on 14 October by emailing Kevin.wagstaff@hse.gsi.gov.uk . People in the sector can also sign up for HSE's e-bulletin by going to www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/ebulletins.htm

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. Despite there being fewer than 1.5 per cent of the population working in agriculture, fatalities account for up to 20 per cent of the total recorded worker deaths annually.
3. HSE news releases are available at www.hse.gov.uk/press.

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Issued on behalf of the Health & Safety Executive by COI News & PR Yorkshire and the Humber