- The NAAC and NFU have produced a checklist to make it easier for farmers and professional contractors to work together, ensuring that work is carried out safely and efficiently
- Farmers can use this checklist when putting in place and communicating the responsibilities and actions of each job to the contractor.
It is vital that contractors and farmers have a close relationship, not only to make the partnership a financial and productive success, but also to keep everyone safe; the new checklist offers a useful tool to support this.
Commenting, Jill Hewitt, NAAC Chief Executive said, “Contractors are now relied upon by many farms to provide a skilled labour force and high-tech machinery. It is essential that everyone works together to exchange local information to make the job run smoothly, avoid public nuisance and keep staff, families and the public safe.”
As part of the Farm Safety Partnership, the NAAC and NFU are working with other industry organisations to improve the safety record in farming.
It is difficult to separate business requirements, environmental concerns and safety as all tend to be interlinked, and the new checklist aims to draw together the vital elements of a successful and safe contractor-farmer relationship.
NFU Vice President David Exwood said: “Farmers and agricultural contractors work closely together on a day-to-day basis, and this new checklist is a great tool to ensure that the whole industry is working together to help everyone remain safe.
“This checklist is about improving the working relationship between farmers and contractors by making small changes to reduce the risk of accidents, while also improving efficiency and productivity.”
