MEDIA RELEASE: Australian Fodder Industry Association
DATE: 17 September, 2014
National Hay Safe Day – Take 5 for Safety on October 25
National Hay Safe Day, a day focusing on safety in the hay and silage industry is on Friday October 25. In the lead up to National Hay Safe Day the Australian Fodder Industry Association (AFIA) is asking everyone involved in the fodder industry to make take 5 minutes and talk about safety.
“With the 2014 fodder harvest already underway in some areas we are seeing the beginning of what will be another big year for hay and silage producers” said AFIA Executive Officer Darren Keating. “A busy fodder season often means people working long hours to keep up and when this happens it’s easy for things like safety to be forgotten”
‘It can only take a split second for something to go wrong and put the safety of a business owner, employees or family members at risk’ continued Mr Keating “That’s why AFIA is asking everyone involved in making and transporting hay and silage to take five on October 25 and consider safety in their workplace”
“It could be that you take five to go through the R U Hay Safe checklist or to give your team a quick refresher on basic safety around the farm” said Mr Keating.
“During the 2013 National Hay Safe Day campaign a number of AFIA members took the opportunity to download safety signage, available on the AFIA website and have the signs installed in their workplace” said Mr Keating. “That’s the kind of initiative we are encouraging everyone to get involved in leading up to National Hay Safe Day in 2014.”
“Work health and safety is everyone’s responsibility, and we want everyone to take on the Hay Safe Day messages, make safety a focus and help prevent accidents from happening in your hay or silage business” concluded Mr Keating.
Hay Safe Day is the initiative Suzanne Woods an AFIA member, fodder grower and hay exporter from Calingiri in Western Australia. Tragically on October 25, 2009, Suzanne lost her father in an accident on their farm.
As part of National Hay Safe Day AFIA is encouraging people to share their safety initiatives on the AFIA facebook page (AFIA Ltd – ausfodder) and to complete the fodder safety survey (available on the AusFodder facebook page or click here to access it).
For more information on safety in the fodder industry please contact the AFIA office on 03 9530 2199 or visit afia.org.au