Work safely together

Contractors and farmers must make safe working the top priority

The NAAC and NFU have worked together to produce a checklist to help farmers, who decide to work with a professional contractor, put in place the actions and communicate the responsibilities required for jobs to be carried out safely and efficiently.

It is vital that contractors and farmers have a close working relationship. This new checklist is a useful tool that not only makes the partnership a financial and productive success, but also keeps everyone safe.

“Many farms now rely on contractors to provide a skilled labour force and high-tech machinery. It is essential that everyone works together to exchange local information to make the job run smoothly, avoid public nuisance and keep staff, families and the public safe,” says Jill Hewitt, NAAC chief executive.

As part of the Farm Safety Partnership, the NAAC and NFU are working with other industry organisations to improve the safety record in farming.

It is difficult to separate business requirements, environmental concerns and safety, because all tend to be interlinked. This new checklist aims to draw together these various elements to ensure a successful and safe contractor-farmer relationship.

“Farmers and agricultural contractors work closely together on a day-to-day basis, and this new checklist is a great tool to ensure that the whole industry is working together to help everyone remain safe,” explains NFU vice president David Exwood.

“This checklist is about improving the working relationship between farmers and contractors by making small changes to reduce the risk of accidents, while also improving efficiency and productivity.”