The Health and Safety Executive are running the make a promise campaign aimed at agricultural workers safety - 2nd February 2010

A new campaign is urging farmers across the country to have safer working practices.

The Health and Safety Executive is launching its ‘Make the Promise’ campaign for farm safety in 2010 after warning that people still die in needless agricultural accidents.

The latest figures show that 26 people were killed and 589 seriously injured in farming accidents during 2008/9.

The farming industry accounts for approximately one-fifth of the work-related deaths every year despite accounting for only 1.5% of the working population.

The HSE has sent out Promise packs to around 70,000 farmers throughout the country, which include a Promise Knot, a visual reminder of the need to keep safe.

Judith Donovan, HSE board member and its agriculture spokeswoman, said: “Over the last 10 years deaths on farms have been caused by the same activities. Extra care must be taken when working with vehicles and machinery, on roofs and with livestock, and this campaign aims to remind farmers of what they can do to reduce the risks. To those farmers yet to make the promise, we encourage them to do it not only for themselves, but for their families and their livelihoods.”

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