Farmers Launch New Hi-Vis Safety Campaign

When you think of hivis clothing, the first profession that comes to mind is probably not farming, but according to a group of farmers who this week launched the #SeeItChangeIt campaign, it should be.

The campaign launched on the 20th of February at the National Farmer’s Union annual conference in Birmingham, with attendees of a safety workshop wearing hivis vests to highlight how many farmers were injured, or suffered an accident or illness, last year.

One in every five of the hivis work was orange, as a point to demonstrate how one in five farmers suffer an injury which keeps them off work for at least a week each year, according to Farmer’s Weekly.

The idea of #SeeItChangeIt isn’t just about wearing hivis, it’s about being more aware of the potential hazards and then making the effort to change it before it becomes a problem. The campaign is asking for simple promises, anything as simple as to wear a hivis or helmet when riding an ATV, or simply ensure their mobile phone is fully charged before they head out, in case anything does happen.

The benefits of a hives on a farm are obvious, yet wearing them is still under-practised in the industry. NFU president Meurig Raymond said: “The safety record within the farming sector needs improving, and there are simple but specific practices that we can change ourselves.”

The campaign is also focusing on safety in regards to illness, such as mental health issues, which can lead to farmers having to take prolonged time off. This is just as important as physics safety, and also needs to be seen and recognised in the industry for change to occur.