'DON'T let farm incidents become acceptable,' is the message that rural insurer NFU Mutual is putting out as it launches its latest farm safety event in Devon.

Mathew Latchford, NFU Mutual insurance agent and local NFU Group Secretary, is helping to organise the event, which will explore the safe operation of machinery, how to safely handle livestock and the right practises to reduce the overall risk of farm incidents. 

'Incidents that take place at work are talked about a lot in the farming community,' he said. 'But they are often situations which should not occur in the first place.'

He added it was vital as many farmers as possible attended.

'These incidents would not be acceptable in any other industry, so they should not be acceptable on the farm, particularly when many incidents can be life changing, or life altering,' he said. 

NFU Mutual believe that by raising awareness and urging farmers to take a moment to think about the risks before starting a task, they can help prevent incidents.

Latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive report found 27 people were killed as a result of farming and other agriculture-related activities during 2022-23.

Farmers are being urged to go along to the event, on Thursday September 14 from 10am to 3pm at Smallridge Bros Ltd, East Collabear, Tawstock, near Barnstaple, EX31 3JZ.

Representatives from Devon and Cornwall Police, Devon Air Ambulance, the Farm Safety Foundation and solicitors Clarke Willmott will be in attendance.