The pre-lambing health and safety event, held at Skipton Auction Mart on Thursday 19 February, was open to all county farmers and was centred around keeping people mentally and physically healthy and staying safe on farm. The event covered lone working, livestock handling, licence legislation, fire safety and essential first aid, as well as providing farm security advice.
Led by the NFU’s Health and Safety team, NFU Mutual Skipton, Craven Farm Vets, Carrs Billington and the North Yorkshire Rural Crime Team, attendees had the opportunity to take part in practical and informative workshops and meet other farm support organisations including RABI, FCN and Field Nurses, which were also on hand to give general health advice.
The event formed part of the NFU’s #Take5StayAlive campaign and was held ahead of lambing season, a high-pressured time when farmers work endless hours caring for animals.
Yorkshire West Riding County Adviser Jennifer Costello, who helped organised the event, said: “Farmers are often so busy looking after their livestock and business that they often forget to look after themselves. We need to change that.
“One accident on farm is one too many, so hosting events like these remains vital to try and help prevent accidents before they can happen, and most importantly ensuring farmers look after their mental health.
“I thought it was great to work with the Yorkshire Dales Farmer Network and other organisations to host this event, and it was great that so many people came.
“I hope everyone will pick up some vital health and safety advice to take back with them to their farms.”
Always more to learn
NFU Farm Safety and Transport adviser Stuart Head said: “Farm safety is essential to the resilience and sustainability of the agricultural workforce. Events such as this are vital for bringing the farming community together to share best practice and improve the culture of safety on farm.
“If those attending took away and implemented even one or two things learnt from this event and shared them with others in the farming community it can make such a difference to improving the statistics that have marred farm safety for too long.
“I would encourage every farmer to attend an event such as this as there is always more to learn and understand about this industry.”
Yorkshire Dales Farmer Network Project Manager Carol Moffat said: “Sadly, we all know someone who lost their lives in a farm accident. We understand the pressures that day to day farming puts on farming families, but we need to talk about it more.
“That is why the Farmer Network is taking the initiative now and we are grateful to the Defra Welfare Fund for supporting this event.”
