SSEN鈥檚 annual farm safety campaign 鈥� look out, look up and look after yourself 鈥� has been developed thanks to ongoing, direct engagement with farming communities and organisations, such as the NFU.
Vital safety meetings
This year, for the first time, the message was reinforced through a series of summer safety talks, held jointly with NFU across all four regions of SSEN鈥檚 south distribution patch.
These gave the distribution operator鈥檚 safety team a vital platform to speak face-to-face with the many farmers and contractors who attended the events.
As we enter the autumn months with darker mornings and evenings, SSEN and the NFU are reminding farmers to continue to be mindful of their safety and well-being - especially when they are operating machinery near overhead lines 鈥� with a new video and accompanying safety leaflet.
Watch now:
Peter Vujanic, Head of Safety for SSEN Distribution said: 鈥淪SEN鈥檚 'Look out, look up, look after yourself,' campaign throughout the summer months has been bigger than ever this year, but we understand the importance of keeping our safety messaging in mind.
鈥淔arming isn鈥檛 a seasonal occupation 鈥� the work continues year-round 鈥� and because of that, we want to ensure we鈥檙e still asking farmers, landowners and their contractors to be aware of their surroundings and potential hazards, and to prioritise their own wellbeing throughout the year.鈥�
鈥淪SEN has seen a reduction in non-injury incidents across farms, but even one incident is one too many.鈥�
Peter Vujanic, Head of Safety, SSEN Distribution
One incident is one too many
鈥淚n the last year, SSEN has seen a reduction in non-injury incidents across farms and fields in central southern England distribution areas, but even one incident is one too many.
鈥淥n the back of the successful summer safety sessions we were invited to attend by NFU, we鈥檝e produced a leaflet and that we hope will work as a safety reminder through the autumn and winter months and help everyone return home safely at the end of their working day.鈥�
NFU and SSEN farm safety session
Always think about putting safety first
Alex Nelms, NFU Berks, Bucks and Oxon chair who hosted a summer safety session at Kelsham Farms added: 鈥淚f there鈥檚 anything that can be learned from these summer safety briefings, it鈥檚 being aware of the networks around you and knowing the free-call 105 number to use when you need information or want to report an issue with the infrastructure on the land you鈥檙e working on.
鈥淎lways think about putting your safety first and risk assess your day ahead, because it鈥檚 not just you who can be affected by an accident at work. There鈥檚 nothing more important than getting up to do your job again tomorrow and going home safe and well to your family afterwards.鈥�