Cornwall farm safety event warns farmers of risk of sepsis
Figures reveal farming accounts for 16% of all workplace deaths
A farm safety day is warning Cornish farmers of the raised risk of contracting potentially fatal sepsis infections.
Cornish campaigner Melissa Mead, MBE, who lost her son, William, to the disease shortly after his first birthday in 2014, is attending the event today (Tuesday 17 October).
Six areas will be covered at the workshop including delivering emergency first aid on farms, working at heights, safe farm transport, overhead power cables and farm security, including the prevention of thefts.
Ian Maddever, NFU Mutual Insurance Agent, based in Liskeard, said: "Farm safety is so important, and the range of issues covered at this event means those attending will get a broad spread of information and advice to help keep them safe. I would urge everyone in the area who can attend to register and come along."
The event comes as figures from the Health and Safety Executive show that farming accounts for just 1% of the working population but 16% of all workplace deaths, according to the HSE Fatal Injuries in Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing Report in Great Britain, 2022-23.
The decision to highlight sepsis as a special risk for the farming community follows the death in March 2021 of livestock farmer Hannah Brown, 26. She left behind her partner Ben Richardson and their baby daughter, then just seven months old.
Hannah who lived near Appleby, Cumbria, fell ill on a Friday with flu-like symptoms. On Sunday afternoon she was warned by a friend she might have sepsis and went to Penrith Hospital. She was transferred to Cumberland Infirmary, where she died later that day.
Health experts say sepsis can affect anyone, but the farming community is more susceptible due to the nature of their work and the raised risk of cuts and grazes, plus a reluctance to have time off and seek medical attention when not feeling well.
"It's so important they seek help if they are feeling unwell"
Sepsis claims 11 million lives a year, yet with early diagnosis, it is often easily treatable. Melissa Mead, who was awarded her MBE for campaigning to raise awareness of the disease on behalf of the UK Sepsis Trust, will be telling those attending the workshop how to spot the signs of sepsis and what to do to stay safe.
The National Farmers’ Union Farm Safety and Transport Advisor Sarah Batchelor will deal with current legislation around agricultural transport on the road and on the farm, including wide vehicle movements, load security, age and licence restrictions and important safety advice.
Hannah Binns, NFU Mutual Rural Affairs Specialist, on a film about awareness of sepsis and its symptoms in the farming community, said: "Farmers are fantastic at looking after the welfare of their animals and stock but less so when it comes to their own health, having a tendency to crack on, especially during busy periods.
"But it is so important they seek help if they are feeling unwell. By watching this video, we hope farmers learn important information that can potentially save lives and livelihoods."
Carl Tinkler of Kernow Training Solutions will be talking about the common injuries sustained on farms, while Gwyn Barlow, regional manager at NFU Mutual Risk Management Services, will provide advice and safety tips on working at height on the farm.
Advisors on power line safety from the National Grid, Rich Penn and Craig Wakefield-Coates, will be speaking on how to prevent machinery coming into contact with overhead power lines – and what to do in the event of an incident.
The Cornwall Farm Safety Workshop is held by rural insurance specialists NFU Mutual at Vincent Tractors, Fraddon, St Columb.