Support Farm Safety Week - Don't Learn Safety By Accident!!!

The Farm Safety Partnership (FSP) is calling on everyone involved in farming to get behind the third annual Farm Safety Week - 6 to 10 July 2015.

The safety drive is supported by health and safety organisations from Northern Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, and aims to cut the toll of accidents which gives agriculture the poorest record of any occupation in the UK and Ireland. In Northern Ireland alone, there have been 100 confirmed farming deaths since the year 2000 to the end of May 2015.

Each day of Farm Safety Week will highlight themed practical advice and guidance for farmers. They will be encouraged to take five minutes to assess safety around particular routine jobs, so that they don’t learn safety by accident.

The daily farm safety themes for Northern Ireland are as follows:

  • Monday – Falls (from height)
  • Tuesday - Machinery (for example, PTO shafts)
  • Wednesday – Slurry 
  • Thursday - Crush injuries
  • Friday - Child safety

The week will also feature powerful farm accident survivor stories from each of the regions. 

Urging the farming community to get behind the latest safety drive, Chairman of the FSP George Lucas said:

“While I appreciate that farming activity is at full capacity over these busy summer months, there is still no excuse to ignore safety. By doing so, farmers put themselves, their workers and their families at risk. 

“Safety must never be an afterthought and by taking just a few minutes to think about the job ahead, preventable accidents can be easily avoided. 

“On behalf of the partnership I would also like to thank the survivors who bravely told their stories to help others stay safe by learning from their painful experiences – please listen.” 

Organisations supporting this year’s Farm Safety Week include, the Farm Safety Foundation, Farm Safety Partnerships, the Health & Safety Executive, Health & Safety Executive for Northern Ireland and the Health & Safety Authority, Ireland.

Since the year 2000 to end of May 2015 there have been 100 confirmed farming deaths in Northern Ireland relating to the following causes. 

Slurry – 11
Animals – 24
Falls (from height) – 19
Equipment – 39
Other – 7

To find out more about the Farm Safety Partnership’s ongoing ‘Stop and Think SAFE’ campaign, or general farming health and safety issues in Northern Ireland, please contact the HSENI helpline on: 0800 0320 121 or visit: www.hseni.gov.uk/farmsafe

E-Cigarette Charger Sparks House Fire

Firefighters have urged people to keep e-cigarettes away from flammable materials after a charger overheated and sparked a house fire.

A man was treated for smoke inhalation after the blaze in Llandybie, Carmarthenshire, on Friday night.

Mid and West Fire and Rescue Service said the charger had set fire to curtains.

Steve Davies, head of community safety, said it had seen "heightened numbers" of fires caused by the devices.

He added: "Although this was a minor incident, based on previous cases the consequences can be devastating."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-33149470

 

Click here to arrange a free initial consultation

Or call us on 028 9151 5742 | 078 9466 3565