WELSH farmers are being urged to adopt safe cattle handling techniques in a bid to reduce the risks to life and limb.

In the last ten years, 388 farmers, their family members or farm workers have been killed on British farms, while thousands more have suffered serious injuries and work-related ill health.

“This is a horrifying statistic, because every fatality, every injury, every illness is one too many and can have catastrophic, life changing effects for farming families,” says Brian Rees, chair of the Wales Farm Safety Partnership (WFSP), and one of the UK’s most well-respected trainers on farm safety.

The role of the WFSP, which is a collaboration between all the key agricultural stakeholder organisations in Wales, is to help raise awareness of the dangers.

The WFSP, with support from Farming Connect, recently arranged a series of daily 20 minute workshops, one of which was attended by Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs. The training was delivered by two approved Lantra instructors - John Hughes and his son Jimmy who farm together near Llandrindod Wells - when farmers and agriculture students from across Wales learned up to date techniques on safe cattle handling.

“I was especially pleased that so many young farmers and agricultural students attended,” said the Cabinet Secretary.

“What they learned that day might just prove a life-saver for some of them."

Mr. Rees explained that handling cattle always involves a risk of injury from crushing, kicking, butting or goring.

“Our workshops demonstrated that there are ways in which you can reduce the risks of accidents and injuries.

“The risk is greater if the animals have not been handled frequently."

"But attempting to carry out stock tasks on any unrestrained cattle or with makeshift equipment is particularly hazardous,” said Mr Rees.

Mr Rees’ top tips include:

Never underestimate the risk from cattle, especially the protective instincts of a newly calved cow, always use proper handling facilities, kept in good working order, use a race and a crush suitable for the animals you handle

and consider a rigorous culling policy for temperamental animals and try to avoid working alone but if you do, keep a phone handy

“Statistics show that you are now six times more likely to be killed working on a farm than at a building site," added Mr Rees.

Eligible farmers registered with Farming Connect can undertake an e-learning module on farm Health & Safety, which is a pre-requisite if you want to apply for machinery handling courses.

Visit www.gov.wales/farmingconnect. Farm safety is available at www.hse/gov.uk/agriculture