The provision of ‘on farm’ health and safety awareness workshops are set to continue across Northern Ireland.
Now the Rural Development Council has been appointed to take forward a programme of workshops which will be held on farms throughout Northern Ireland.
Due to commence in autumn, Teresa Canavan, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Council (RDC) welcomed the new scheme which is part of the continued roll out of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme.
Speaking about their recent appointment as delivery agent, Teresa said: “Farm health and Safety remains a key priority. RDC is pleased to be able to deliver further awareness raising workshops as part of the Farm Family Key Skills programme. 
“Progress is underway for a new round of workshops which will be delivered on farm. We are currently in the process of securing suitable ‘on farm’ training venues and would invite any interested farm family to access the information on this at http://www.rdc.org.uk/our-work/Farm-Family-Key-Skills-Health-and-Safety.The closing date for receipt of interests is 12 noon on Monday, September 26 2016.”
The farm health & safety training programme will cover awareness training, risk assessment and knowledge transfer on processes required in undertaking farm activities, on farm construction works and other key risk areas such as the young and elderly on farms.
Managed by the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), the programme is funded through the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme with support from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). 
The target for Year 1 is 30 courses. Year 1 covers the period October 2016 to March 31 2017.