Farmers offered free places on approved farm safety course
© GNP Up to 26 agricultural workers are being offered the chance to win a free place on a new farm safety training course, offered by the NFU Mutual’s Risk Management Service in collaboration with the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).
The course is aimed at those with managerial responsibilities and covers areas such as risk assessment, identifying workplace hazards, putting practical controls in place, understanding legal responsibilities, investigating incidents and measuring performance.
See also: Fear culture linked to farm accident under-reporting
The selected 26 will be chosen via a raffle, with entrants simply required to provide some personal contact details and a description of their current jobs.
The announcement comes during the Farm Safety Foundation’s annual Farm Safety Week, which this year has a focus on serious injuries and how they are leaving thousands of lives permanently changed on farms across the UK.
Helena Phillips, NFU Mutual technical consultant, said: “Farming is a demanding and often high-risk industry, and has a shockingly poor safety record.
“Good health and safety management plays a vital role in protecting people, businesses and rural communities.
“By offering free places on the IOSH course, we hope to equip agricultural workers with practical knowledge and confidence they can take back to their businesses.”
Stephanie Berkeley, Farm Safety Foundation manager, added: “We are proud to support the action being taken by IOSH and NFU Mutual’s Risk Management Services.
“Four days to learn how to manage safety in agriculture is a good investment for your farm business, for your people and for the future of the industry.”
Get involved
The IOSH-approved Managing Safely in Agriculture and Rural Industries course will take place at The Grange in Leicestershire from 24-27 November 2026 and 19-22 January 2027.
Those interested in securing one of the funded places can enter the draw via a form on the IOSH website. The raffle closes for entries at midnight on Friday 21 August.
