A free health and safety event will feature some of the most dangerous tasks and activities on farms.

The Health and Safety in Farming roadshow is taking place on Friday January 19 at The Royal Bath and West Showground at Shepton Mallet.

Farmers will watch a series of demonstrations by experienced training course instructors on how to stay safe on their farms. One of those instructors, in the All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV or ‘quad bike’) section, is Denis Cartmel, 68 who has trained riders of these vehicles to stay safe for many years.

He said: "Farming is the most dangerous occupation, people who work on farms make up less than 2% of the total UK workforce, yet they account for near 20% of work-related fatal injuries. The figures for non-fatal/serious injuries are believed to be similarly bad and equally proportional.

"ATVs are, unfortunately, a significant contributor to these accident figures. Pro rata they are the most dangerous piece of transport equipment on a farm yet they are treated casually, with little realization of their potential to kill.”

The message that Mr Cartmel will be sharing with farmers at the roadshow is the importance of properly maintaining their ATVs and getting themselves trained to ride them correctly. Wearing head protection when riding them is essential as 10 of the last 12 farmers falling victim to fatal accidents would have survived if they had been wearing head protection. Passengers should not be carried.

Other topics relevant to the industry’s accident statistics that will be covered at the event are working at heights, forklift trucks/telescopic handlers, general health issues relevant to livestock farmers, handling livestock and safe working practices on farms.

The event is run by Lantra, the land-based industry’s standard-setting body and the industry’s main training provider and accreditor on behalf of the Health & Safety Executive.

Places are available in both the morning and afternoon sessions of this event. The event is free and farmers wishing to attend should book their place by calling Olivia Turnock-Rogers at Lantra on 02476 858430 or 07725 464961.

A similar free event is to be held at Holsworthy Livestock New Market on Friday February 23.