New partnership to focus on health and safety
Improving farm safety is the aim of a new partnership between Scotland’s largest machinery ring and leading rural insurers which was announced on the first day of the Royal Highland Show yesterday, against the background of the industry’s continuing poor health and safety record.
The new partnership will provides Ringlink’s 2,900 members across the country with access to health and safety advice provided by NFU Mutual’s network of risk management consultants.
The scheme will see reports produced on the potential hazards identified on farms and solutions to remove or manage the risks offered. The surveys will also ensure that farmers taking part are running their businesses in accordance with relevant health and safety legislation.
The initiative has been launched against the background of Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures which show that agriculture continues its poor record – it now has the highest rate of fatal injury of all the main industry sectors in Great Britain.
Statistics published in the HSE report Fatal Injuries
0 Safe use of machinery is a recurring issue in farming in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing in Great Britain 2016/17 showed how 27 farm workers, including five in Scotland, were killed as a result of farming and other agriculture-related activities during the year. Transport – overturning vehicles or being struck by moving vehicles – caused most deaths.
Martin Malone, NFU Mutual Scotland manager, said that both organisations involved were well aware of the potential dangers of modern agriculture, and were determined to take steps to help farmers work safely.
Graham Bruce, Ringlink Scotland managing director, said that health and safety was of paramount importance and the figures reinforced the fact that this area should be further up the industry’s agenda. He said: “Ringlink have, for some time, considered the delivery of a dedicated health and safety service and we are confident that the combined knowledge of both businesses will serve to provide an efficient and effective solution to the benefit of our members.”
Fergus Ewing, rural economy secretary, said that a move to address the long-standing issue of poor health and safety in the industry was to be welcomed. He said: “I am therefore delighted to hear and support this new partnership between NFU Mutual and Ringlink, which will provide farmers with access to health and safety advice.”