Health and Safety Executive Health and Safety Executive AIAC: 2 May 2007 Communications Update Dr Roger Nourish: Head of Agriculture & Food Sector

Communications aim To promote awareness of health and safety and encourage risk assessment amongst farmers and farm workers

Objectives To promote a fundamental culture change resulting in an agriculture industry which: recognises high standards of health and safety as an integral part of successful business practice; achieves a sustainable downward trend in fatal/major accident incidence rates to workers and the number of farm deaths involving members of the public and children

Key issues Deep-seated culture of unwise risk-taking Farmers resistance to officialdom Health and safety not regarded as integral to good farm business management

Intervention strategy Emphasis on communication and outcomes rather than on inspection per-se and outputs

Communications Budget 2007/08 Key elements: In support of: –HSE Campaigns –FIT3 Strategic Programme Stakeholder engagement Sponsorship

Communication Activities Internal communications

Internal communications strategy With Field Operations Divisions (FOD): Operational interventions Presentations Seminars Training courses Operational guidance; and Developing / managing intranet and web communities

Communication Activities Communication objectives: Internal communications Stakeholder communications

AIAC and project/working groups Sector stakeholder engagement programme Stakeholder activities e.g. food chain project Bi-laterals e.g. insurance initiative Devolved government – Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly

Communication Activities Communication objectives: Internal communications Stakeholder communications External communications

External Communications Activities: SHAD’s Technical and specialist shows Royal Shows Publications Press articles Internet and electronic communications

SHAD Budget (188k) Programme of: 18 mainstream agriculture SHADs (£153k) 4 arboriculture (£20k); and 3 Forestry SHAD’s (£15k)

Technical and specialist show budget (£7.5k) Planned events 2007/08: ‘Cereals’ ‘Saltex’; and the ‘Arboricultural Show’

Royal Shows Sector funded & delivered: –Royal (July) FOD funded & delivered (with sector support): –Royal Highland (June) –Royal Welsh (July)

Publications Revised procedures in place for: New publications Reprints and new/major revisions Priced and non-priced publications Web only based publications Single booklets as opposed to multiple sheets Sponsorship

Press articles and press funding Media activity: Farming news; Editorial features and trade press; Farmers Weekly Initiative; and Building better relationships with journalists and trade press

Electronic communications Electronic activities: e–bulletin; HSE agriculture web page; Migrant and casual workers website; and Annual reports - fatals accident statistics and pesticides

Conclusion Need to explore: New ways to communicate and influence the farming community Stakeholder involvement; and Sponsorship