FARMER Adam Henson hosted a farm safety event last week for farmers in the Gloucestershire area.

About 250 farmers turned up for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) event on Tuesday, November 1 held at the Farm Park.

Farmers received practical demonstrations on workplace transport including trailer braking and maintenance as well as roof work and livestock handling.

Figures from HSE show on average between 40 and 50 people are killed on British farms every year, despite there being less than 1.5 per cent of the population working in the industry.

Nearly 8,000 places are being made available at HSE’s Safety and Health Awareness Days (SHADs) across Britain, with the aim of cutting the number of deaths and injuries in future.

BBC Countryfile presenter Adam Henson said: “From going to several HSE events in the past, my awareness of the number of incidents and fatalities on farms has grown and it horrifies me.

“I am always talking to young people about what an exciting industry farming is and trying to encourage them to get into it, but when you then have to tell them that farming is also the most dangerous industry, it takes the cream off the cake.”

Sandy Blair, HSE board member and agricultural champion who was at the event said: “Farmers have told us that they get a lot out of these events and it was encouraging to see so many take part.”

The Countryfile episode featuring the day at the Cotswold Farm Park is due to be broadcast on BBC1 on Sunday, November 20.