A new farm safety initiative is being launched as 27 farm workers lost their lives in 2016/2017.

NFU Mutual and the Farm Safety Foundation are working in collaboration on a new farm safety initiative.

Stephanie Berkeley, who heads the Farm Safety Foundation said: “The facts are shocking: 27 farm workers lost their lives in the workplace in 2016/17 and many more sustained life changing injuries.

“While UK farmers are among the best in the world, farming continues to have the poorest safety record of any occupation – the industry accounts for 1.5 per cent of all workers, but 15-20 per cent of all worker fatalities according to the latest Health and Safety Executive figures.

“We are happy to support NFU Mutual’s campaign and spread the message on the need to make everyday tasks safe. We want the farming community to take note, share and put into practice the topics we outline to help change behaviours towards farm safety.”

“By creating awareness of the importance of farm safety when carrying out regular tasks such as bringing down bales from a stack, working near PTO shafts, and using all terrain vehicles, we want to improve the safety of farms across the UK,” said Ian Jewitt, Managing Director of NFU Mutual Risk Management Services.

“As NFU Mutual’s risk management services provider, we regularly see hazards and risky ways of working which could lead to tragic accidents. Unfortunately, today’s farmers are under huge pressure to get work done, often alone, and familiarity does breed contempt when we do the same tasks day in day out - and eventually luck runs out and the result is horrific injuries and fatalities.

“Working with our partners at the Farm Safety Foundation we have created four scenarios to highlight the issues and show farmers how to avoid them. We will be sharing these safety topics via Facebook and Twitter and asking farmers to spread the message by posting a pledge on Twitter.”

The campaign focuses on highlighting the risks of the following tasks: working at height - ladder usage, working with farm machinery particularly around PTO shafts, working with livestock and using All Terrain Vehicles - ATVs.

New emergency contact cards are available to drivers of all agricultural vehicles in the South West.

Designed to help prevent incidents involving overhead power-lines, farm workers are being advised on the steps to take, should their vehicles accidentally come into contact with electricity.

The partnership has released a simple two-point plan to drivers to help reduce serious and fatal accidents; 1) Stay in the vehicle and 2) Dial 105 from a mobile phone for the local electricity network provider to isolate the power supply.

Only when the electricity is cut-off is it safe for the driver and passengers to leave the vehicle. Those who approach a vehicle to assist should only do so once the power is isolated.

Stephanie Berkeley, Manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, continued: “Reducing risks and putting in measures to promote safety in rural environments is the Farm Safety Foundation’s highest priority and we want to ensure that the rural community understands the steps that they should take in accidents on farming sites.

“Kept in cabs or about a farmers’ person, these contact cards mean information is to hand, so incidents can be dealt with efficiently and correctly.

“For example, although most farmers are aware of the power-lines that cross their site, and safety signage and markings are in place, it only takes adverse weather conditions or a farm accident to dislodge power-lines, which workers may not be aware of. This may then result in machinery striking the lines, which could be fatal.”

Phoebe Ridley, NFU Mutual South West, said: “Farm safety is a priority and it’s essential that workers and the public alike understand the steps to take to contact the right people to deal with an incident as quickly and safely as possible.

“It’s a simple measure which could ultimately save someone’s life. The contact details will be beneficial in the event of a vehicle striking a power-line or if a lone worker is found unconscious. If there’s a serious immediate risk, emergency services should be contacted on 999.

“We’re confident the safety cards will help reduce the risk of accidents being fatal and ensure people get the help they need quickly.”

The contact cards are now available at 16 NFU Mutual offices in the South West. Customers are being encouraged to visit their local office or give them a call to receive their free card.

For more information about NFU Mutual, or to find the contact details of your local agent, visit www.nfumutual.co.uk. To find out more about the Farm Safety Foundation’s work, visit www.yellowwellies.org.