The 'Avoid Harm on the Farm' calendar has been released by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI), and features winning entries from its child farm safety poster competition this year.
Over 5,000 schoolchildren from more than 100 schools submitted entries to the 'Be Aware Kids' competition, highlighting common farm safety issues including slurry gas, working at height, livestock and farm machinery.
IOSH Northern Ireland Branch is one of a number of Farm Safety Partnership (FSP) Affiliate organisations to have sponsored the calendar, with ABP Group, AES UK & Ireland, Asda and the Northern Ireland Safety Group among the other sponsors this year.
It is the latest in a long line of initiatives that the branch has pursued in order to raise awareness of farm safety and health.
Earlier this year, the branch provided sponsorship so that farm safety demonstrations could be provided for visitors to the Balmoral Show, Northern Ireland's largest agricultural show. It is due to work in partnership with HSENI again at the show in 2017.
Richard McIvor, chair of IOSH Northern Ireland Branch, said: "We are extremely pleased to be able to pursue this with the backing of IOSH. It is a real privilege to contribute to this vital cause.
"Working in partnership to promote agricultural safety remains a key focus of our activities. Our vice-chair Jackie O'Neill is currently developing the branch's strategy to take this forward into 2017 and beyond.
"We will continue to support HSENI in raising awareness of this issue, and hope that the calendar will go some way towards helping not only children, but also their parents and carers, more aware of the risks associated with agriculture."
The calendar was officially launched by HSENI Chairman George Lucas, who said: "The poster competition and calendar is a great learning tool for the pupils in thinking about the dangers and steps they can take to be safe on the farm."
Click here to download the calendar, and here to view the winning entries.
