The tenth Farm Safety Week ended yesterday, however a key point of the campaign was to encourage positive behavioral change on farm 365 days a year. The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) is committed to reiterating the importance of farmers making their health and wellbeing a constant priority in order to improve safety on farms because while progress has been made in some areas, farming continues to have the poorest safety record of any occupation in the UK and Ireland. This stresses the much needed work that still needs to be done.
The UFU encourages farmers to always stop and think before carrying out work on the farm to make sure they are doing so in the safest way possible. The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland has lots of guidance on farm safety online and have created four Farm Safe Essentials listed below, which flags key dangers and advice on how to stay safe.
Check your brakes
No brakes, no chance. Faulty brakes or not applying them properly are still killing people on our farms. A regular safety check and good maintenance will keep everyone safe.
Plan safe spaces
Don’t be caught out by bulls. Attacks by bulls are still one of the most common causes of deaths on farms. Always ensure you plan a safe space.
Give slurry space
Slurry gas: one breath can kill. Follow the slurry code (can be found on the HSENI website) and stay out of the shed for at least 30 minutes after mixing starts.
Stay off roofs
Don’t let roofs be your downfall. Falls from height and through fragile roofs continue to kill and seriously injure our farmers. Always ensure you have properly trained people and the right equipment for carrying out roof work on the farm.
