During the June council meeting1, each member was anonymously asked to commit to one thing they will do differently to make their farm business safer, as part of a collective moment of reflection and personal commitment in a sector where too many lives are still lost or changed forever by preventable incidents.
With almost 600 farm-related incidents reported last year2, taking five minutes before any task to pause and think has never been more important.
Now, the NFU is calling on farmers and growers across the country to take part and make their own farm safety pledge3 鈥� whether it鈥檚 checking machinery, wearing a helmet on an ATV or looking out for a neighbour.
NFU Deputy President David Exwood said: 鈥淔arm safety is something we must all take personally. Too many people are suffering serious or fatal injuries while doing their job, and behind every incident is a family left to pick up the pieces.
鈥淭his unanimous commitment by NFU Council members is a powerful statement that we can, and must, do better. Whether it鈥檚 changing a routine, replacing worn equipment or simply taking a moment to think, small actions can save lives.
鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to think farm safety is something for someone else to worry about, but the reality is it can happen to any one of us. We all need to lead by example by making one change on our farms because that one change could be the one that saves a life. I know from personal experience how quickly things can go wrong4 and how vital it is to not become complacent. Safety has to be our first thought, not our last. We have a responsibility to ourselves, our families and our staff to make smart choices on farm.
鈥淟et鈥檚 lead by example, speak up when something鈥檚 not right and make sure everyone gets home safe.鈥�
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