How to keep everyone safe on your farm

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30 people were killed within the agricultural, forestry or fishery sectors in the UK during 2016 to 2017.

Those were the startling facts shared with Welsh farmers during a Farming Connect event at Coleg Amaethyddol Glynllifon near Caernarfon, Gwynedd recently.

9 farmers are killed on farms in the UK per 100,000 workforce compared to 1.5 within the construction industry.

“The industry realises that we have a problem, but individual farmers busy out and about on their farms day in day out are reticent to see that changes need to be made,” explains Brian Rees, Chair of Wales Farm Safety Partnership who led the event.

Attendees were given the opportunity to see real life practical sessions bought from the farmyard to the event at Glynllifon. And farmers commented how successful and useful the sessions during the day had been, as they split into smaller groups to learn more at different safety stations during the event.

Safe handling of livestock and diminishing risk of accidents were demonstrated using a cattle crush on site during one of the group sessions. Others were given an insight into how to operate an ATV or quad bike effectively, by using your own body weight to adjust and counter balance steep hills and rocky terrain. Farm machinery and a tractor was used at the third safety station, to demonstrate how best to stay safe whilst working the machinery and handling dangerous chemicals whilst spraying on the farm.

Dyfan Parry Jones a young farmer from Maesteran, Penegoes, near Machynlleth said: “We heard a story from one of the trainers about a PTO accident, and how a farmer lost his whole arm in a freak accident. It happened in a second.

“He stressed to us, the importance of safe STOP, where you’re advised to switch off the tractor engine when jumping off to check implement settings or detaching a machine. That story will certainly stay with me.”

Gwyndaf Roberts a beef and sheep farmer from Llanllyfni, Dyffryn Nantlle said: “The training was much more than I was expecting. It gave us a real insight to issue that affects us on farms. I was particularly interested in learning about the cattle handling system, and the tips and advice that was offered to us.

Young farmer, Edward Rhys Evans who farms with his family at Dysyrnant, Cwm Maethlon in Tywyn said: “The quad bike training was really useful. It advised us how to stop anything untoward from happening when travelling down steep inclines. It’s something I will take away with me when I’m back home working the land.”

For Huw Thomas, a beef and sheep farmer from Meillionydd Bach, near Aberdaron, Pen Llŷn, attending a Farming Connect event was a first for him: “I was impressed by the fact that the trainers spoke to us as it is, in reality out on a farm. They obviously had experience of farm work and were level headed in their approach.

“I could identify with the comment that many of us don’t realise we’re getting olderand can’t move as swiftly as we used to as 20-year-old lads! I’ve had experience of being in tricky situations with cattle in a shed, and I certainly don’t check my freshly calved cattle on the farm by myself these days. I make sure my son or someone else is with me. It’s just not worth the risk when you know some of the cattle are flighty.”

The event at Glynllifon was part of a two-day Farming Connect training programme, with another day offering farmers in South Wales the opportunity to attend the health and safety training at Coleg Gelli Aur, Llandeilo in Carmarthenshire.

“We were delighted by the response from farmers across Wales,” explains Sara Jenkins, Development Manager for Farming Connect, the programme run on behalf of the Welsh Government by Menter a Busnes.

“We have received some great partnership support to host these events from the Welsh Government, FUW, NFU Cymru, RABI and FCN. Health and Safety is certainly an issue that needs addressing within the industry, and we are grateful to Coleg Gelli Aur and Coleg Glynllifon for their support in hosting these events. More events are already in the calendar, so I’d urge anyone interested in attending to register their interest soon.”

Brian Rees, Chair of Wales Farm Safety Partnership said: “Our sessions may just prove to be a life-saver for some farmers as we showed that there are many ways in which you can reduce the risks of accidents and injuries to you, your family and employees.

“It’s a fact that children who are killed in an accident involving a farm machine are killed in the path that runs from a farmhouse door to the machine itself. Visibility whilst sitting on a machine is a dominant factor, as small children cannot be seen at a certain level. Unfortunately, these tragic circumstances are continuing to occur on UK farms.

“We must also remember that individuals visiting farms, be they vets, professional advisers or people delivering goods, are the responsibility of the farm owner. Minimise risk as far as possible, so everyone working or visiting that farm is as safe as practically possible.”

Two further ‘Saving Lives and Livelihoods’ events have been arranged by Farming Connect in conjunction with the Wales Farm Safety Partnership as follows, both events will be held between 13:00 and 16:00:

Tuesday 28th August 2018 Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, Powys. LD3 3SY
Wednesday 29th August 2018 Rhuthin Livestock Market, Rhuthin, LL15 1PB

 

For further information, please visit http://www.gov.wales/farmingconnector call 08456 000 813, or email farmingconnect@menterabusnes.co.uk

Cadw pawb yn ddiogel ar eich fferm

 

Lladdwyd 30 o bobl yn y sectorau amaethyddol, coedwigaeth neu bysgodfeydd yn y Deyrnas Unedig yn ystod 2016 a 2017.

Dyna’r ffeithiausyfrdanol a rannwyd gyda ffermwyr Cymru yn ystod digwyddiad Cyswllt Ffermio yng Ngholeg Amaethyddol Glynllifon ger Caernarfon, Gwynedd yn ddiweddar.

Mae 9 o ffermwyr yn cael eu lladd ar ffermydd yn y DU ym mhob 100,000 o’r gweithlu o’i gymharu ag 1.5 o fewn y diwydiant adeiladu.

“Mae’r diwydiant yn sylweddoli bod gennym broblem, ond mae ffermwyr unigol sy’n gweithio o gwmpas eu ffermydd bob dydd yn gyndyn o weld bod angen gwneud newidiadau,” eglurodd Brian Rees,Cadeirydd Partneriaeth Diogelwch Fferm Cymru a arweiniodd y digwyddiad.

Rhoddwyd cyfle i’r rhai a oedd yn bresennol weld sesiynau ymarferol o fywyd go iawn ar y fferm yn y digwyddiad yng Nglynllifon. Dywedodd ffermwyr fod y sesiynau yn ystod y dydd wedi bod yn llwyddiannus a defnyddiol, a rhannwyd yn grwpiau llai i ddysgu mwy am wahanol sefyllfaoedd diogelwch yn ystod y digwyddiad.

Dangoswyd sut i drafod da byw yn ddiogel a lleihau’r perygl o ddamweiniau gan ddefnyddio craets (crush) gwartheg ar y safle yn ystod un o’r sesiynau grŵp. Rhoddwyd cipolwg i eraill ar sut i ddefnyddio ATV neu feiccwad yn effeithiol, trwy ddefnyddio pwysau eich corff i addasu a gwrthbwysollethrauserth a thircreigiog. Defnyddiwydpeiriannau fferm a thractor ar gyfer y drydedd sefyllfa ddiogelwch, i ddangos y ffordd orau i fod yn ddiogel wrth ddefnyddio’r peiriannau a thrafod cemegauperyglus wrth chwistrellu ar y fferm.

Meddai Dyfan Parry Jones ffermwr ifanc o Faesteran, Penegoes, ger Machynlleth: “Clywsom stori gan un o’r hyfforddwyr am ddamwain PTO, a sut y collodd ffermwr ei fraich gyfan mewn damwainanghyffredin.

“Pwysleisiodd bwysigrwydd STOP diogelwch, a’r cyngor a roddir i ddiffoddpeiriant y tractor wrth fynd oddi arno i archwilio’rpeirannau neu eu datgysylltu. Mi fydd y stori yna yn bendant yn aros yn fy nghof.”

Meddai Gwyndaf Roberts o Lanllyfni, Dyffryn Nantlle, ffermwr bîff a defaid: “Roedd yr hyfforddiant yn llawer mwy cynhwysol nag yr oeddwn yn ei ddisgwyl. Rhoddodd gipolwg gwirioneddol i ni o’r problemau sy’n effeithio arnom ar ffermydd. Roedd gen i ddiddordeb arbennig mewn dysgu am y system trafod gwartheg, a’r cyngor a roddwyd i ni.

Meddai Edward Rhys Evans, ffermwr ifanc sy’n ffermio gyda’i deulu yn Nysyrnant, Cwm Maethlon yn Nhywyn: “Roedd yr hyfforddiant ar feiciaucwad yn ddefnyddiol dros ben. Cynghorwyd ni sut i atal unrhyw beth anffodus rhag digwydd wrth deithio i lawr llethrauserth. Byddaf yn yncofio’r cyngor pan fyddaf nôl gartref yn gweithio ar y tir.”

Dyma’r tro cyntaf i Huw Thomas, ffermwr bîff a defaid o Feillionydd Bach, ger Aberdaron, Pen Llŷn, fynd i ddigwyddiad Cyswllt Ffermio: “Gwnaedargraffarna i oherwydd bod yr hyfforddwyr wedi siarad efo ni, mewn sefyllfaoedd go iawn ar y fferm. Roedd yn amlwg bod ganddynt brofiad o waith fferm ac roedd eu ffordd o gyflwyno’r wybodaeth yn addas.

“Roeddwn yn gallu uniaethu â’r sylw bod nifer ohonom ddim yn sylweddoli ein bod yn mynd yn hŷn, a’n bod yn methu â symud mor gyflym â phan oeddem yn 20 oed! Rwyf wedi cael profiad o fod mewn sefyllfaoeddperyglus gyda gwartheg mewn sied, ac yn sicrfydda i ddim yn mynd ar fy mhen fy hun i gael golwg ar y lloi newydd eu geni ar y fferm y dyddiau yma. Rwy’n gwneud yn siŵr bod fy mab neu rywun arall gyda mi. Dydi o ddim gwerth y risg pan ydych yn gwybod bod rhai gwartheg yn wyllt.”

Roedd y digwyddiad yng Nglynllifon yn rhan o raglen hyfforddiant dau ddiwrnod gan Cyswllt Ffermio, gyda’r cyntaf yn rhoi cyfle i ffermwyr yn Ne Cymru fynychu hyfforddiant iechyd a diogelwch yng Ngholeg Gelli Aur, Llandeilo yn Sir Gaerfyrddin. Mae rhagor o raglenni ar y gweill drwy Gymru.

“Rydym yn falch iawn o’r ymateb gan ffermwyr drwy Gymru,” eglurodd Sara Jenkins, Rheolwr Datblygu ar gyfer Cyswllt Ffermio, gyda’r rhaglen yn cael ei chynnal ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru gan gwmni Menter a Busnes.

“Rydym wedi cael cymorth gwych gan bartneriaid i gynnal y digwyddiadau yma o WasanaethCysylltwyr Fferm Llywodraeth Cymru, NFU Cymru, FUW, RABI a Grŵp Llandrillo Menai. Yn sicr mae iechyd a diogelwch yn fater sydd angen sylw yn y diwydiant, ac rydym yn ddiolchgar i Goleg Gelli Aur a Choleg Glynllifon am eu cefnogaeth i gynnal y digwyddiadau yma. Mae mwy o ddigwyddiadau eisoes ar y calendr, felly byddwn yn annog unrhyw un sydd â diddordeb mewn dod iddynt i gofrestru yn fuan.”

Meddai Brian Rees,Cadeirydd Partneriaeth Diogelwch Fferm Cymru: “Efallai bydd ein sesiynau’nfodd i arbed bywydau rhai ffermwyr gan ein bod wedi dangos bod nifer o ffyrdd y gallwch leihau perygl damweiniau ac anafiadau i chi, eich teulu a staff.

“Mae’n ffaith bod plant sy’n cael eu lladd mewn damwain gyda pheiriant fferm yn cael eu lladd ar y llwybr sy’n mynd o ddrws y ffermdy at y peiriant ei hun. Mae gallu gweld wrth eistedd ar beiriant yn ffactor pwysig, gan nad yw’n bosibl gweld plant bach ar rai lefelau. Yn anffodus, mae’r amgylchiadautrasig yma’n dal i ddigwydd ar ffermydd y DU.

“Rhaid i ni hefyd gofio mai cyfrifoldeb perchennog y fferm yw unigolion sy’n ymweld â ffermydd, boed yn filfeddygon, ymgynghorwyrproffesiynol neu bobl sy’n danfonnwyddau. Dylid lleihau perygl cyn belled â phosibl, er mwyn i bawb sy’n gweithio neu’n ymweld â’r fferm mor ddiogel ag sy’n ymarferol bosibl.”

Bydd dau ddigwyddiad ‘Achub Bywydau a Bywoliaeth’ pellach yn cael eu cynnal gan Cyswllt Ffermio mewn cydweithrediad â Phartneriaeth Diogelwch Ffermio Cymru, rhwng 13:00 a 16:000 yn y lleoliadau canlynol:

Dydd Mawrth 28 Awst 2018 Maes y Sioe Frenhinol, Llanfair ym Muallt, Powys. LD3 3SY
Dydd Mercher 29 Awst 2018 Marchnad Da Byw Rhuthun, LL15 1PB

Am wybodaeth bellach, ewch i www.llyw.cymru/cyswlltffermio neu ffoniwch 08456 000 813 neu anfonwch e-bost at farmingconnect@menterabusnes.co.uk

 


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