Charity offers a friendly reminder for farmers to always put safety first

This Farm Safety Week  (July 21 to 15) farmers are urged to think about the dangers of living and working on a farm.

The Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) says change is needed towards risk-taking and poor safety behaviours in the next generation of farmers.

While UK farmers are among the best in the world, farming remains one of our country’s most hazardous industries; accounting for 1% of workers but 18% of all worker fatalities (HSE). 

Manager of the Farm Safety Foundation and Derry native Stephaine Berkeley-Arags has been working in the industry for several years to raise awareness around the importance of farm safety. 

Speaking to the County Derry Post Stephaine said: “I grew up in a big farming and fishing community and saw first hand the impact and dangers of growing up on a farm. One wrong decision can have an absolutely life changing or life ending consequence. I have friends who have lost members of their families in accidents, I also have friends who have lost their limbs in farming accidents and know of children who have been affected by accidents. Family, friendships, groups,  and communities are desperately impacted by this. There is a massive ripple effect to this if there is a farming related accident or fatality. It can happen so easily, that is the danger. Farmers are so hard working and dedicated, they work all hours of the day and night. They don’t take weekends or evenings off. It’s 365. A lot of farmers work right up to old age. They often are taking the same risks that they probably took 40 years ago. If you continue to take the same risks, time is going to run out. 

“My hope is to be able to inspire the next generation of farmers to take their safety seriously. To think about what could go wrong. If you get hurt how serious it could be. Farmers need to start thinking about this every time they do a job. It’s not about paperwork, it’s about actually stopping and giving yourself a bit of headspace to think about it. If we are starting the conversation on this and to help change the culture of risk taking then I am doing my part. Our farms need to be safer places to live, to work, and to visit.” 

Explaining the awareness work she does with the charity, Stephaine continued: “For the past 11 years we have been working closely with Agricultural College CAFRE to provide training to young farmers. Every first year student receives detailed training. I often met people years down the road and they still remember our training. We do things a bit differently. It doesn’t work if you start telling a farmer what to do. They are busy people and they know these things, it is just being there to offer a reminder of what can go wrong and the people that can be affected. We are also teaching young farmers how to speak up if they think something is unsafe and how to do it respectfully. This can be hard if their boss is a family member but it’s important they know how to speak up to address something that may be bothering them and to get the outcome they need. We also speak to farmers about the importance of looking after their mental health. Especially if they are behind the wheel of a vehicle. If they are feeling distracted or concerned about something. They can easily become disjointed and not able to concentrate as much. That is when accidents can happen.” 

Over the past year the single biggest cause of farm related accidents and deaths has been quad bikes. 

Speaking on this issue Stephaine said: “We all know it’s not the quad bike that is the issue. It is often how they are handled. They are often handled by people that haven’t been trained or aren’t old enough to be driving them. It is very important if you are on the vehicle you are wearing a helmet and are properly trained. Most people don’t understand the power of the vehicle if something does go wrong. In the last 60 years it has been the same reasons why farmers have lost their lives: livestock, tractors, or machinery, the only new thing over the last 10 or so years has been the quad bike. They have been an integral vehicle used on farms that is why it needs to be given due respect. They need to know how to be able to handle it properly. That’s why the work of the Ulster Farmer’s Union is so important. They are calling on people to think about how they use equipment properly and what’s the right thing to do. Something as simple as always remembering to check your air pressure and your tyres if you are driving one of their vehicles is important. Farms are a great place to grow up. They teach young people so much. But we also need to remember they are not playgrounds.”

To conclude Stephaine shared some tips in relation to farm safety. “It is important to keep your yard clean and tidy, this doesn’t cost a penny to do but can make the world of difference. Also, slow down. In our research 68% of farmers would admit that rushing would be the reason they take risks. Remember to take a break. You wouldn’t overwork your tractor or a piece of machinery, you would let it rest so allow that for yourself too. If in doubt just stop and think about what could go wrong if you get hurt. Our tagline at the charity is ‘Who would fill your boots’. Ask yourself if something was to happen to you today on the farm who would be there and who could be affected by your inquiry or death. They are difficult or highfalutin thoughts, it is all about common sense. It's just about getting that awareness and reminder out there.” 

For more information visit yellowwellies.org