Stay safe around cattle in the countryside at Easter

The Health and Safety Executive are currently running its "Your Farm, Your Future" campaign and have released an article warning people of the dangers surrounding the British countryside.

With the easter break approaching and thousands taking to the countryside for some well needed fresh air, the HSE wants to remind both farmers and walkers to do all they can you keep everyone safe.

Whilst the vast majority of cyclists and walkers enjoy the countryside safely and use the extensive network of footpaths without any problems, there are walkers who will stray off course and access fields where there are livestock.

On average, between one and two members of the public are killed each year while using public rights of way, others suffer serious injury. In the past 12 months, the HSE has prosecuted four landowners/farmers for failing to take appropriate steps to stop walkers from being seriously injured on their land. One of these cases resulted in the tragic death of a 61-year-old grandmother who was killed while enjoying a family walk in Northumberland.

Some key considerations for farmers and landowners include:
• No dairy bulls should be kept in fields with public access at any time.
• Where possible avoid putting cattle, especially cows with calves, in fields with public access.
• Assess the temperament of any cattle before putting them into a field with public access.
• Position feed and water troughs away from public access routes and away from public entrances and exists to the field.
• Any animal that has shown any sign of aggression must not be kept in a field with public access.
• Clearly sign post all public access routes across the farm. Display signage at all entrances to the field stating what is in the field (cows with calves / bulls).

To read the full HSE press release click here.

Farming is statistically the most dangerous industry in the UK. Using the right farm safety signs is necessary to meet legal requirements and protect the landowner from liability if someone is injured on their property, so it’s vital to properly display farm signs where required.

In the ten years, close to one person has been killed every week as a direct result of farming and agricultural work. Many more have been seriously injured and surveys suggest that only 16% of serious injuries are actually reported within the farming and agricultural sector. The HSE estimates that there could be as many as 10,000 unreported injuries in the industry each year.

If you supply equipment to the farming / agriculture industry you should consider adding farm safety signage to your offering.

Becoming a Caledonia Signs distributor is now easier than ever. Simply contact us at support @ caledoniasigns.co.uk and our dedicated account manager will contact you regarding any support packages you're interested in and to introduce you to the world of safety signs.

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