INDUSTRY experts are set to lead talks and demonstrations about farm safety at a major UK agricultural exhibition next month.

The inaugural 'Harrison and Hetherington (H&H) Safety Farm Zone' at the Borderway Dairy Expo, Carlisle, will play host to presentations on topics such as coping with emergencies and safe use of machinery.

Last year, figures revealed by the Health and Safety Executive revealed agriculture to have the highest fatality rate of all the main industry sectors.

And the farm safety zone at the Borderway expo on March 14 will give farmers the opportunity to assess and improve their own on-farm safety by hearing from people such as Georgina Lamb, North West regional manager at The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, and Richard Hunter, a lecturer at Newton Rigg College, near Penrith.

The inaugural showcase is being provided by H&H Safety, a support service for farm and rural businesses and the result of a partnership between H&H Insurance Brokers and IRM Safety.

Paul Graham, managing director of H&H Insurance Brokers, said: “Through our strategic partnership with IRM Safety, and as proud sponsors, we have assembled this programme to provide rural visitors to the show with knowledge, advice and helpful support relating to the challenges of working safely within a farm environment.

"By raising awareness around some key issues, H&H Safety hopes to provide a positive health and safety message whilst giving visitors advice and signposting to services they can trust.”

Neil Elsender, managing director of IRM safety, added the H&H Safety Farm Zone would help to "raise awareness" of the "simple steps" that could be taken to ensure those in farming "go home safe each day.”