OFFICERS from the Health and Safety Executive are to hold an awareness day in a bid to reduce the number of injuries and deaths on farms.

Farmers throughout Lancashire are invited to attend the event at Myerscough Agricultural College, Garstang, on Wednesday, September 11.

Those who cannot attend will have their farms visited by an inspector to check on health and safety standards. Those who do attend will be removed from the immediate inspection programme and given time to apply instructions they have received.

John Goymer, Acting Principal Agricultural Inspector, said: "Agriculture continues to be one of the most hazardous industry to work in. During 2000 to 2001 an increase in accidents to the self employed, coupled with a decrease in the number of employed workers in the sector led to an increase in fatal accident rate.

"Last year there were 46 fatalities in farming nationwide, including four in Lancashire and Cumbria, with 600 people in those areas suffering major injuries. Thirty-three people killed were self-employed, which is a significant increase from the previous year."

The Workshops will consist of seven practical interactive demonstrations of scenarios that regularly feature in the accident 'top ten'.