Agri Aware gets set to kick off its in-person farm safety workshops in primary schools this week

Agri Aware is gearing up for a busy period in its programme's calendar as the agri-food educational body gets set to visit schools as part of its new farm safety initiative.

The initiative Safe Farm Futures, supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, will see Agri Aware's Farm Safety Officer visit primary schools across the country to educate the next generation on farm safety.

In-person workshops will be held in primary schools across the country over eight weeks for schools that signed up their students to the programme, which is nearly 25,000. The first of these workshops will take place this Friday, April 12, in Co. Meath.

Agri Aware's new Farm Safety Officer, Ashley Traynor, will deliver the workshops nationwide.

The workshops aim to educate students on various aspects of farm safety through engaging and interactive activities by creating awareness of potential dangers and promoting responsible behaviour when on and working on farms.

Speaking ahead of the farm safety initiative roadshow, Agri Aware Chairman Shay Galvin said: "Year in, year out, we sadly hear of fatalities on farms, and what's also a concern is the near misses we don't hear about on farms.

"Educating the next generation on the importance of being safe on farms is hugely important especially at a young age to ensure good habits, rather than bad habits are acted upon.

"Ensuring children understand and can see dangers on a farm from a young age, and educating them on how to be safe be it around livestock or machinery is what Safe Farm Futures is all about.

"We hope both teachers and students enjoy these interactive in-person workshops and take home some valuable learnings that will ensure a safe working environment for all."