Farm Safety Week this year is 17th-21st July 2023. In this episode we discuss farm safety in the south west, reviewed by two members of the Cornish Mutual team - Paul Mahon, who is Head of Technical Development, and Nick Lay who is a Chartered Legal Executive and Claims Technician. 

Devon based dairy farmer Fred Collins is also on the show. In February last year Fred was changing a tractor tyre when the jack failed and his arm was trapped and crushed for a considerable amount of time. Surgery took 8 ½ hours to insert a metal plate and 32 screws to his arm. Severe nerve damage left him without any feeling in his hand. His story is certainly one of resilience, both personally and in terms of his business. 

Throughout this series we are focusing on the topic of resilience. 

Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming. 

For more information on Cornish Mutual visit cornishmutual.co.uk

For our podcast disclaimer click here. 

Timestamps

00:01 Cornish Mutual jingle. 

00:06 Intro music.

00:15 Peter Green introduces the series.  

01:57 Nick Lay recalls his earliest rural/farming memory.

02:45 Paul Mahon recalls his earliest rural/farming memories (including Farmer Fish!)

03:45 Paul gives some information about farm safety in the south west.

04:50 Agriculture employs 1% of the working population in Great Britain but suffers from nearly 20% of accidents. 

05:29 The situation from Cornish Mutual - relayed by Nick. 

06:39 Why is it so important that Farm Safety Week exists?

07:07 Nick talks about farm accidents and how they make him feel.

07:57 Fred Collins section. 

08:46 Fred talks about his accident in February 2022. 

11:52 What makes people and farmers in particular take short cuts? Being busy and the challenge of this. The need to slow down. 

14:50 Fred's main learning points since the accident. 

15:36 Everything was in place already. 

16:33 Back to Nick and Paul.

16:44 Nick shares some of the common farm accidents. 

18:22 What does resilience mean for Paul?

19:00 What is resilience for Nick? How does it link to safety?

19:54 Paul talks about action on farm.

21:10 Not enough hours in the day - how can people be encouraged to slow down?

22:35 Paul explains about action plans and highlighting the things that are the most important. 

23:13 Peter rounds up. 

24:20 Cream tea questions...

25:34 Peter rounds up.