Latest news with #RobertKidd
Agriland
04-08-2025
- Health
- Agriland
Hseni Reminds Elder Farmers to Recognise Their Limitations
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is highlighting the key risk associated with age during this week's Farm Safety Week 2025. The Farm Safety Partnership (FSP) held an older farmer health and safety awareness day earlier this year at the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service's (NIFRS's) new Learning and Development College, Cookstown. The event - which was held in affiliation with FSP's partners such as HSENI - discussed how farmers over 65 years-of-age can be at a higher risk of injury or even fatality. The day outlined how farmers can make small changes to reduce the risk of the accidents and reinforced the message that by taking small steps, farmers can save their own or other's lives. The HSENI confirmed that over 60 farmers attended to learn about an array of topics. Professionals informed farmers on the dangers of animal handling, slurry management, machinery and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), working at heights, and occupational health. The advisers focused on matters such as dust and lung health as well as reminding farmers that agility and speed fade with age, which can often catch farmers out when animal handling. HSENI chief executive, Robert Kidd said: 'It is important that we liaise and engage with our older farmers, as health and safety is an ever-increasing issue in the farming community with new equipment, machinery and methods of farming evolving all the time. "Equally with older equipment, it is crucial to ensure it is well maintained and in safe working condition." Kidd said the event "gave us an opportunity to highlight the increased risks with age in farming, as we urged older farmers to recognise their limitations, and prioritise safety measures on their own farms." He expressed his satisfaction with the day, thanking the farmers for their feedback and stating how another event is already been planned after the success. Speaking at the launch of Farm Safety Week, Kidd highlighted how farming has the poorest safety record of any industry across the UK and Ireland. He said many farmers still think of the industry as 'more than a job, it is a way of life", and said that everyone shares the responsibility of keeping farming safe.
Agriland
04-08-2025
- General
- Agriland
HSENI: 'Farming has poorest safety record of any industry'
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has given its full support to the Farm Safety Foundation (FSF) in its efforts to change farming's poor safety record. Today (Monday, July 21), marks the first day of Farm Safety Week 2025, which is now in its thirteenth year. HSENI, a member of the Farm Safety Partnership, said the message to the farming community has always been consistent: take extra care when working with animals, machinery, and moving vehicles. HSENI said that farmers, workers and farming families need to prioritise looking after their own health, safety and wellbeing to be fit and continue being involved in participating in the farm business. This year's Farm Safety Foundation objectives are: To continue challenging and changing the attitudes to risk-taking and working safely; Share evidence and real experiences of the past 13 years to remind audiences to take positive steps to improve their attitudes and behaviours; To highlight the importance of wearing PPE (personal protective equipment), especially eye protection, when carrying out a variety of farming tasks; To highlight the critical importance of safe operation of agricultural vehicles and, in particular, quad bikes; To celebrate the Farm Safety Heroes from each of our partner countries working to drive a positive change in the industry. Speaking at the launch of Farm Safety Week, Robert Kidd, chief executive of HSENI said: 'Farming continues to have the poorest safety record of any industry in the UK and Ireland, but we have made significant strides in raising awareness and encouraging safer practices, particularly among the younger generation. "Nevertheless, in this thirteenth year of our Farm Safety campaign, we'll shine a light on less obvious, but equally critical, issues affecting the safety and wellbeing of those who live and work on farms." Kidd said HSENI are proud to support the annual Farm Safety Week campaign. "Farming is more than a job, it is a way of life so keeping it safe is a responsibility we all share. "Whether new to the industry or farming for years, we all have a role to play in improving the safety record within the farming community. "There is no acceptable level of serious injuries or fatalities in farming, as each incident affects a family, a farm business and a local community," he added. As part of the new HSENI occupational health campaign, the authority will be highlighting key areas of concern in farming such as agricultural dust; skin cancer through over exposure to UV rays, and musculoskeletal disorders. The Farm Safety Partnership also includes the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU), NFU Mutual (NFUM), the Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster (YFCU), the Farm Safety Foundation (FSF), the Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers Association (NIAPA) and Rural Support. The partnership is tasked with assisting Northern Ireland's farming community to work safely and tackle the problem of work-related fatalities and injuries on farms.
