The Farm Safety Partnership, in association with local farm machinery dealers, is launching Northern Ireland’s first ‘PTO Safety Week’ on Monday 23 September.
The aim of the new initiative is to encourage farmers to STOP and THINK about the dangers of unguarded or poorly guarded PTOs and to remind them to protect themselves and others from serious or even fatal injury.
To support this latest farm safety drive, participating dealers will offer a 15% discount on new PTO shaft guards purchased during the week – Monday 23 to Saturday 28 September.
HSENI officers will also embark on a programme of visits to farms across Northern Ireland to encourage farmers to check their guards.
Looking forward to a successful first PTO week, Chairman of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) George Lucas said:
“On behalf of the Farm Safety Partnership I’d like to thank the participating dealers for their generosity and support for this potentially life-saving initiative.
“PTO shafts are dangerous and can rip off a limb or kill in seconds. However, HSENI officers continue to find many unguarded PTO shafts when visiting local farms – this is not acceptable. It’s important that farmers stop and think – ‘Is the PTO guard there and is it in good condition?’ before that hitch up.”
UFU Deputy President Barclay Bell said; “I am encouraging farmers to get involved and avail of the 15% discount being offered on new PTO shaft guards. Unguarded PTO shafts remain a common issue on farms which is obviously extremely concerning given the real and series danger this poses. This is a great opportunity for farmers and I would encourage farmers to check that all PTO’s on their farms are safe to use and protected by high quality PTO guards. We believe that farm safety involves everyone connected to the farming industry and we all need to play our part if we want to put a stop to the number of deaths and accidents happening on farm.”
A list of participating dealers involved in ‘PTO Safety Week’ is as follows:
Farmcare Services, 11 Magheraboy Road, Rasharkin ,Co Antrim
George Hamilton Machinery, 100 Barnish Road, Randalstown, Co Antrim
W J O’Brien & Son Ltd, 5 Station Road, Eglinton, Co Londonderry
Howard Fulton Tractors/All Spares NI, 68 Dernaflow Road, Dungivan, Co Londonderry
William M Lindsay, 18a Ringduffern Road, Killyleagh , Co Down
W J Crabbe Engineering Ltd, 55 Craignageeragh Road, Ballymena, Co Antrim
Burkes of Cornascriebe Ltd, 151 Markethill Road, Portadown, Co Armagh
Redrock Machinery Ltd, 77 Redrock Road, Collone, Co Armagh
Alexander Mills, 43 Main Street, Benburb, Co Tyrone
Brian McAlerney Tractors, 20 Clanmaghery Road, Ballyward, Castlewellan
L W Surphlis & Son, 31 Drumlegagh Church Rd, Newtownstewart
R J Rutledge, 97 Drumquin Road, Castlederg, Co Tyrone
WJ Hanna Machinery Ltd, 57 Magherafelt Road, Draperstown, Co Derry
Derek Wilson Agri Machinery, Springhill Road, Moneymore, Co Londonderry
Sayers Machinery Services, 22 Spout Road, Strabane
RG Brown & Co, 20 Millvale Road, Bessbrook, Newry
McCullagh Machinery LTD, Derrylin Road, Bellanaleck, Enniskillen
Heron Agri, 37 Pillar Brae Road, Ballymena, Co Antrim
Riddell Bros, 64 Carricknakielt Road, Maghera, Co Londonderry
Erwin Agri Care, 82 Nutts Corner Road, Crumlin, Co Antrim
Rea’s of Finvoy, 191 Finvoy Road, Ballymoney, Co Antrim
If more dealers would like to participate in the discount scheme, they should contact the Ulster Farmers’ Union on: 028 9037 0222.
The NI Health and Safety Executive have also produced a PTO Guard Safety leaflet, which is available here.
Accidents involving equipment such as PTOs is one of four areas targeted by the Farm Safety Partnership’s new farm safety campaign, ‘Stop and Think SAFE’.
To find out more about the ‘Stop and Think SAFE’ campaign, or for advice about working safely with livestock, please contact the HSENI helpline on: 0800 0320 121 or visit: www.hseni.gov.uk/farmsafe
