Farming

Formed in September 2013, the NISG Farming Sub-Committee has been communicating the Farm Safety Message to farmers and their families by:

● attending Agricultural Shows
● sponsorship of annual HSENI "Avoid Harm on the Farm" Calendar
● through the dedicated farming section of NISG Website and NISG E-Zines
● by collaboration with the Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster Agricultural Shows
● As Affiliate Members of the Farm Safety Partnership

NISG Agricultural Show Presence

Over the last number of years NISG have participated in Agricultural Shows in Antrim, Augher, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Limavady, and the RUAS Winter Fair held at the Eikon Centre, outside Lisburn. We have also collaborated with HSENI by assisting them at their stands at both the Balmoral Shown and the Winter Agricultural Fair held at the Eikon Centre. This collaboration promoted key areas of farm safety such as tractor training for young persons, risks from slurry and general tractor safety. We continue to deliver the farm safety message in 2025 and will have a stand at the Antrim Show and the Clogher Valley Show during the summer period.

Attendance at the Shows offers us the opportunity to communicate farm safety messages directly to farmers, both young and old, in an informal setting where we speak to various family members together, e.g. husbands, wives, adult and young children, and can encourage safe and positive behaviours by all to help keep the farming community safe. Some of the initiatives that we have discussed include:

•    Quad Safety;
•    General Hazards around the farm using a "Spot the Hazards" competition for children;
•    Giving out farm safety packs, and Hi-Vis vests, kindly provided by Hyster Yale, to children. This proved very popular with the parents, grandparents and young people attending;
•    Distributing information from HSENI on Workplace Transport Safety.

The “Avoid Harm on the Farm” Calendar is compiled using winning photos from a farm safety poster competition which primary schools in Northern Ireland can enter. The pupils receive farm safety talks from HSENI personnel and then design a farm safety poster. This initiative provides excellent learning which the children take home to their families, with the aim of having the young people educating their elders. NISG are proud to have supported this calendar for a number of years, ensuring that each family with children at a rural primary school receive the calendar annually.

NISG Ezines

We regularly send out ezines to our membership, and others who are signed up, to offer health and safety information to those who work on farms. In Northern Ireland many people farm on a part-time basis and are also employed in local companies. Many of these people will work in the construction or manufacturing industries, as the core skills required can overlap e.g. plant and machinery operators and skilled tradespeople. Our ezines normally go to health and safety or operational personnel and we ask that they are shared with the company employees and supply chain, as this provides a much greater reach of information. It also allows the NISG member organisations the opportunity to engage in proactive corporate social responsibility, and share vital information. In 2025 our Ezines have provided information on the HSENI’s stand at the Balmoral Show, signposted to working safety with slurry information and notified ezine readers to updated information on ensuring good lung health amongst other topics - a vital resource for busy farmers.

Collaboration with Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster (YFCU)

In July 2023, YFCU agreed to collaborate with NISG to share knowledge on farm safety. Since then, we have provided judges for their Public Speaking Heats and Finals, assisted with their safety quiz and will provide the Guest Speaker at the Group Debate Final in November 2025.

Farm Safety Affiliates

As Affiliate Members of the Farm Safety Partnership, NISG work with other interested companies and organisations connected to the farming sector to raise the profile of good health and safety on the farm. In March 2025 NISG also participated in the organisation and delivery of an awareness event, along with HSENI and other Affiliates, aimed at educating older farmers on the risks they may encounter when working on their farms. It is a well-know fact that there is an increased risk to the health and safety of older workers and that farmers generally do not retire but keep working for as long as they are able. NISG provided vital information on the importance of understanding and using correct respiratory protection at this “Plough On – Older Farmers Day” event attended by 60 mature farmers.

NISG received recognition of our work at the Farming Life Awards in 2023, where we were delighted to win the Farm Safety Affiliate Award, sponsored by the HSENI.

For further information on farming matters, please contact NISG Secretary Nicola McCracken on info@nisg.org.uk.