Farm safety standards are tackled

Two safety awareness days are being held in Derbyshire, aimed at reducing the number of accidents on farms.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is organising a series of workshops in Ashbourne and Bakewell.

Officials say they are particularly concerned about the dangers faced by self-employed farmers.

Nationally, 29 people died in farming accidents in just six months last year, the same number of people killed in the whole of the previous year.

'Cutting corners'

The HSE blamed the rise in accidents on poor harvest conditions seen in August and September.

Dr Roger Nourish, Head of HSE's Agriculture and Food Sector, said: "I think that what has happened in lots of parts of the country was that the window of opportunity was very limited.

"When the weather did abate, people were under pressure, and that's when they become vulnerable.

"It is at that point they cut corners because they are rushing around and are tired and stressed.

"The tragedy of this is that nearly all these accidents were avoidable. Time and time again it is the same things we see."