Rhiannon Wilson, CXCS Health and Safety Advisor explains how making a difference when it comes to farm safety doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.
Reducing the injury and fatality rate in agriculture is one of our industry’s top priorities. It is also one of our toughest challenges, with the incident rate proving stubbornly and depressingly high.
Figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that 21 workers were killed as a result of farming and other agriculture-related activities from 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023. In addition to this, six members of the public, including a farmer’s three-year-old child were also killed. Working with cattle is the number one cause of work-related death on British farms and accounted for a total of eight fatalities during this period. These statistics are shocking, and sadly the impact on affected farms can be huge, with incidents leading to farming work stopping altogether.
In a bid to improve safety on British farms, these figures have prompted HSE to focus on the dangers of working with livestock in their 2024 ‘Your Farm, Your Future’ campaign. As working with cattle is a very common activity in farming (but one that carries a high risk of being very badly hurt), the campaign aims to stress the importance of taking sensible measures to keep animals and people apart.
Measures include:
- Planning handling tasks beforehand and being properly trained in safe systems of work using the equipment provided and be competent to handle livestock.
- Carrying out stock tasks on restrained animals using good handling facilities.
- Ensuring that all handling equipment, gates, and railings are well maintained and in good working order.
- Making sure that you have adequate escape routes.
At the same time, the HSE are continuing to highlight the safe use of farm vehicles in and around the yard and sheds, but also out in the fields when checking, feeding, moving, and caring for a herd. For example, ATVs (or farm quads) are commonly used on livestock farms and many reported incidents show the user was doing something in relation to farming the animals at the time of the overturn or crash.
Safety needs to be at the top of everyone’s agenda and there are simple, cost-effective changes we can all make to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Actions we can take in our daily farming activities include never underestimating the risk from cattle (even with good precautions in place), wearing a helmet on an ATV and using the ‘Safe Stop’ procedure when leaving the cab.
At CXCS we are committed to maintaining safe workplaces, but we also recognise the challenges and financial restrictions that farmers in today’s climate face. As a result, we give practical, easy-to-implement advice which can help to make a real difference on the ground and prevent yet another farming tragedy.
For help and advice on farm safety, please contact our Health and Safety Team on 01981 590514.
