Farming health and safety roadshow arrives at Rougham, near Bury St Edmunds

Denis Cartmel, who will be running a farm health and safety in Rougham. Picture: DENIS CARTMEL (Image: Forge Communications)

Invited farmers will be shown a series of demonstrations by experienced training course instructors on how to stay safe on their farms on Tuesday, February 20, at The Grain Stores, Rougham Industrial Estate, near Bury St Edmunds (IP30 9ND).

Denis Cartmel, 68, of Penkridge in Staffordshire, an instructor in the Safe Use of Machinery section, has trained machinery operators for a number of years and has worked in the farming industry all his life.

“Farming is the most dangerous occupation, people who work on farms make up less than 2% of the total UK workforce, yet they account for near 20% of work-related fatal injuries,” he said.

“The figures for non-fatal/serious injuries are believed to be similarly bad and equally proportional. Use of machinery is, unfortunately, a significant contributor to these accident figures.”

Other topics relevant to the industry’s accident statistics that will be covered at the event are: working at heights, forklift trucks/telescopic handlers, general health issues relevant to livestock farmers, handling livestock (in particular cattle) and an overview of safe working practices on farms.

The demonstrations and presentations for the morning session start at 9am, and are repeated in the afternoon starting at 1pm.

The event is run by Lantra, the land-based industry’s standard-setting body and the industry’s main training provider and accreditor, based at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire, on behalf of the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

Places are available in both the morning and afternoon sessions of this event. The event is free and farmers wishing to attend should book their place by calling Olivia Turnock-Rogers at Lantra, tel: 02476 858430/07725 464961.