Launch of On Farm Health and Saftey Charter
25/01/2012
Today the launch of the ‘On Farm Health and Safety Charter for Wales’ took place during a Wales YFC Farmhouse Breakfast event.
The Charter which is aimed at substantially improving farm safety was launched by the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and European Programmes, Alun Davies AM.
During the past year, discussions have taken place in order to try and improve on farm safety and reduce the staggering number of fatalities and serious injuries within the agricultural industry. Consideration has also been given to the unique health and safety challenges that those working in farming face daily.
Representatives from the following organisations were present and signatories of the charter include;
Wales YFC, NFU Cymru, FUW, CLA Wales, Hybu Cig Cymru, Welsh Government, Lantra, RABI Wales, NFU Mutual, Forestry Commission Wales, Farm Crisis Network and RWAS.
Marc Jones, Wales YFC Rural Affairs Chairman states;
“All of the organisations present are committed to working together for a safer farming industry in Wales. By joining forces and working together, much more can be done in order to ensure that farmers are equipped with the information and training they need to be able to make that promise to themselves and to their families to come home safe.”
Alun Davies, Deputy Minister for Agriculture said: “I am very pleased to be joining the other organisations in launching the Charter and to see the whole industry working in a joined-up manner on such an important issue. This new Charter is an important building block in the work to be done and I commend it and all the organisations that have signed-up to it."
Any proceeds from the event will be donated to Wales YFC Chairman’s Charity of the Year – Wales Air Ambulance.
Dylan Jones, Wales YFC Chairman notes;
“Initially it took me some time to think of a charity to support this year, but once I got thinking about the Wales Air Ambulance I had little hesitation in pledging my support to this worthy charity. No one knows when they will need the support of the Air Ambulance, and in the 10 years it has been in existence it has provided invaluable support to many individuals and families of farming nature. I hope that by launching this charter there will be further awareness and promotion of health and safety on farms. On behalf of Wales YFC, I would thank the Jones Family of Trefnant Hall, Welshpool for their kind hospitality during the event.”
