The Potato Council urging growers to plan their approach to health and safety this harvest, following the news that the number of on-farm deaths are higher in agriculture per 1,000 than in the construction or manufacturing sectors.
The trade body, with support from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and Grimme UK, launched a Safe Potato Handling DVD last year, with optional subtitles available in Polish, Portuguese, Latvian and Lithuanian.
The DVD covers the important aspects of safety and crop handling throughout the supply chain.
This has been distributed to Potato Council-registered growers and members of the National Association of Agricultural Contractors.
The presentation, which was specifically produced for the farm team involved with in-field and in-store potato grading, integrates the importance of health and safety with correct use of farm equipment to preserve potato quality and increase yield.
Phil Bradshaw, supply chain manager at the Potato Council, said: “As the lifting season commences this is the perfect time to show the 20-minute presentation to the whole team involved in your on-farm potato operation. The practical safety advice was developed by consulting with farm owners, managers, and operatives.
“This is an ideal refresher to staff and powerful training tool for new or casual employees that re-enforces the basic messages in a visual format appropriate for farm workers, even if their first language is not English. Non-English speakers can view the DVD with subtitles and read the documentation in their native language.”
HSE inspector Tony Mitchell said: “The Safe Potato Handling DVD is a valuable tool for managers and supervisors to raise awareness amongst workers and help reduce the risk of accidents and improving the efficiency of potato harvesting, which will benefit their business. The people best placed to make the workplace safer are the staff and managers who work in them. As you prepare to lift the 2008 crop, this is the ideal time to play the DVD and plan your whole team approach to health and safety.”
For copies of the Safe Potato Handling DVD, call Phil Bradshaw on 07776 492274.
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