Join IAgrE and the NFU for a workshop targetted to those in education and training to promote safe working and reduce on farm fatalities
Background
Agriculture continues to have the worst fatal incident rate compared with other sectors. The Farm Safety Partnership (FSP) in England agreed a challenging target to reduce deaths in farming by 50% by 2023. However, Members will be aware that incidents continue to occur at an alarming rate and organisations in the industry have been called upon to increase their effort to reduce the incidence of deaths, injuries and ill health in farming.
The Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) are members of FSP England and also endorse the work of the other national Farm Safety organisations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. IAgrE members are in a position to influence farmers directly; through education; as manufacturers and dealers; through the food supply chain, and in many 'safety critical' roles, throughout the industry.
With this in mind, IAgrE convened a Conference in 2013 for our members on 'Agricultural Engineering and Compliance'. This was held at Harper Adams University, in collaboration with HSE and the FSP.
IAgrE also established an annual 'Safety Project' competition for students and set up a Specialist Farm Health and Safety Interest Group, with a dedicated webpage. However, we recognise these need rejuvenating and this workshop is intended to kick-start that process.
Current issues and priorities for farm safety and health will be summarised and discussed in this first 'targeted' workshop, which is intended specifically for those engaged in education and training. It will be repeated for students in 2021 in the hope that it will prompt some to undertake relevant projects. Meanwhile we hope that Lecturers will identify relevant projects for entry in the IAgrE's annual Competition. Workshops for other specialist groups may follow.
Aims of the Workshop:
• to raise awareness of key farm safety concerns and encourage the sharing of best practice by knowledge exchange;
• to raise awareness of IAgrE's Student Safety Project Award and encourage entries from a wider range of Universities and Colleges, and
• to identify ways in which lecturers and trainers in farm machinery (working together with I AgrE and its wider membership), can contribute to reducing deaths, injuries and ill health in farming (and associated industries).
This 90 minute (evening) Workshop will consist of three 10-15 minute presentations, followed by online 'live' Q&A and Discussion sessions:
1. Priorities for Farm Safety - Tom Price (The Farm Safety Partnership Secretary and NFU's national Transport and Safety Policy Officer) will review the latest statistics and describe the role and priorities for the Farm Safety Partnership and its Partners.
2. Promoting Health and Safety via Further Education - Stephanie Berkeley (Manager of the Farm Safety Foundation) will describe how the charity is using virtual reality and web-based platforms to create a learning environment that delivers a memorable and relatable farm safety session, promoting positive engagement with key safety messages, challenging risk-taking behaviours and preserving and protecting the physical and mental wellbeing of the next generation of farmers.
3. IAgrE's support - Alan Plom (MIAgrE and ex FSP England Board Member) will describe IAgrE's activities supporting the Farm Safety Partnership, the IAgrE's Health and Safety Special Interest Group & annual Student Safety Project Award
4. Q&A
5. Opportunities and Threats - An online workshop session for delegates to identify 'next steps', to be chaired by IAgrE's CEO, Charles Nicklin.
Use the link below to book your place
