Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill has launched a new series of on-farm safety awareness sessions.

Aiming to reach 3,000 participants in its first year, FarmSafe Awareness, is designed to make people more aware of the risks that exist on farms.

Minister O’Neill said:  “These 2.5 hour awareness sessions are being delivered on Focus Farms across the north.  They will make participants better informed and encourage them to change activities and work practices to establish a safer working environment for the farm family.

“We have an ambitious target of attracting 3,000 participants by the end of the year however we are confident given the importance of the farm safety message and collective input this is achievable.”

FarmSafe Awareness is one of many actions contained within the Farm Safety Partnership’s recently published Action Plan.  The Farm Safety Partnership was established in May 2012 specifically to address the poor record of health and safety within the agriculture industry across the north as exemplified by the unacceptable numbers of farmers losing their lives as a result of workplace accidents over recent years.

The Minister added:  “The sessions, funded through my Department under the NI Rural Development Programme, will offer practical demonstrations covering the everyday hazards faced by farmers and farming families. Topics include: Working at Height; Slurry Risks; Handling Livestock; and Working with Machinery.”

Teresa Canavan on behalf of the Countryside Agri-Rural Partnership added:  “Registrations can be accepted on a group or individual basis and sessions will run once a minimum of 10 people are registered for one FarmSafe Awareness course.  A light lunch is provided and sessions can run during week days or on Saturdays as demands request.”

Visit www.countrysiderural.co.uk  for a list of the participating Focus Farms and contact 0845 026 7536 or 0845 026 7534 to register for one of the sessions.