Machinery dealers are involved in PTO Safety Week which reminds farmers of the risks from poorly guarded PTO shafts.

Supported by the Farm Safety Partnership and in association with local farm machinery dealers, the initiative aims to encourage farmers to check their guards and replace or repair them where necessary.

More than 40 participating dealers across Northern Ireland will offer a 15% discount on new PTO guards purchased from today through to this Saturday, September 27. Some outlets will also provide free PTO fitting and repairs, so contact your dealer to find out what’s on offer.

Officers from the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) will also visit farms throughout the week to ensure that proper action is being taken to reduce the very real dangers from poorly guarded or unguarded PTOs. In addition, if any farmer wishes to arrange a visit to their farm for free safety advice and information, they should call the HSENI helpline on: 0800 0320 121.

During the week HSENI staff will also revisit farms where evidence of unacceptable PTO guarding has been found in the past to ensure that proper safety measures have now been put in place.

Urging farmers to take action against the dangers poorly guarded PTOs, Head of HSENI’s farm safety team Malcolm Downey said: “Everyone involved in farming knows how dangerous PTO shafts can be. If not properly guarded they can maim or kill in seconds. So, while it is encouraging to see that many farmers have already taken action to reduce the danger, it is frustrating to still see unguarded or poorly guarded PTO shafts as a common and unnecessary risk on many farms. This is not acceptable and farmers need to act now to eliminate this obvious danger on their farms.” Accidents involving equipment such as PTOs is one of four areas targeted by the Farm Safety Partnership’s new farm safety campaign, ‘Stop and Think SAFE’.

To find out more about the ‘Stop and Think SAFE’ campaign, or for advice about working safely with farm machinery, please contact the HSENI helpline on: 0800 0320 121 or visit: http://www.hseni.gov.uk/farmsafe Participating dealers in Fermanagh include the following; - McDonagh Engineering, Drumbane, Kesh.

- McCullagh Machinery, Derrylin Road, Bellanaleck.

- Fred Dunn, Ardunshin, Brookeborough.

- Walmsley Tractors, 67 Manoo Road, Kesh.