HSE gives specialist training to avoid workplace accidents

Around 350 farmers from Somerset have attended a training day aimed at reducing the number of workplace accidents - and subsequent personal injury claims - seen annually in the UK's agricultural sector.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) - the nation's watchdog on safety practices in the workplace - organised the free-of-charge event after its recent publication of data revealing that 38 people in the farming industry died due to accidents at work last year, which makes the occupation the most dangerous job in the country.

These figures highlighted the need to raise awareness of the importance of safety in an agricultural workplace, as they revealed that 20 per cent of all deaths in a place of work happen in this arena, despite only 1.5 per cent of the population working within it.

In order to improve safety knowledge, the event included several practical demonstrations on how to correctly use machinery and farmyard vehicles.

Posted by Patrick White
 

13/08/2010 16:51