HSE's farm safety days grow in popularity

Date:

12 November 2012

A new programme of safety and health awareness days for farmers (SHADS) has got off to a flying start, with the first five over-subscribed.

Around 1700 farmers have attended the first five events in Salisbury, Illminster, Orkney, Spalding and Ludlow with a further 22 planned across Britain for 2012/13.

Farmers are being encouraged to respond to their invitations straight away to avoid missing out.

SHADs are voluntary, free events run by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), to help reduce death and injuries in one of Britain's most dangerous industries. They offer practical tips and demonstrations on such topics as machinery safety and livestock handling.

Feedback from the events in 2011 was extremely positive with 99 per cent of farmers surveyed saying they would recommend them to others.

Graeme Walker, Head of Agriculture at HSE said:

"Health and safety on farms doesn't just happen it needs to be managed. SHADs are about encouraging farmers to think and plan around the risks. The feedback from these events has got more and more positive year on year."

More information on where the events are taking place and what to expect on the day can be found on the Health and Safety Executive website: www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/shads.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

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