Farm safety partners to launch new PTO awareness week

The Farm Safety Partnership, in association with local farm machinery dealers, is launching Northern Ireland’s first ‘PTO Safety Week’ on Monday 23 September.

The aim of the new initiative is to encourage farmers to STOP and THINK about the dangers of unguarded or poorly guarded PTOs and to remind them to protect themselves and others from serious or even fatal injury.  

To support this latest farm safety drive, participating dealers will offer a discount on new PTO shaft guards purchased during the week – Monday 23 to Saturday 28 September.

HSENI officers will also embark on a programme of visits to farms across Northern Ireland to encourage famers to check their guards.

Looking forward to a successful first PTO week, Chairman of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) George Lucas said:

“On behalf of the Farm Safety Partnership I’d like to thank the participating dealers for their generosity and support for this potentially life-saving initiative.

“PTO shafts are dangerous and can rip off a limb or kill in seconds. However, HSENI officers continue to find many unguarded PTO shafts when visiting local farms - this is not acceptable. It’s important that farmers stop and think - ‘Is the PTO guard there and is it in good condition?’ before that hitch up.”

Deputy President of the Ulster Farmers’ Union Barclay Bell added:

“I’d urge farmers to avail of this great opportunity to buy new PTO guards at discounted prices.

“Farmers should purchase good quality PTO guards - while some meet the minimum required standards they can be of inferior quality and offer poor value for money and limited protection.

“Farm safety must involve everyone connected to the farming industry and all of us need to play our part."

More details about the initiative, including a list of the dealers involved in the scheme will be published for the start of PTO week.

If more dealers would like to participate in the discount scheme, they should contact the Ulster Farmers’ Union on: 028 9037 0222.

Accidents involving equipment such as PTOs is one of four areas targeted by the Farm Safety Partnership’s new farm safety campaign, ‘Stop and Think SAFE’.

To find out more about the ‘Stop and Think SAFE’ campaign, or for advice about working safely with livestock, please contact the HSENI helpline on: 0800 0320 121 or visit the Farm Safe website