HUNDREDS of farmers are getting lifesaving lessons at a two-day safety event at Sedgefield Racecourse.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the North-East is promoting the event, held yesterday and today, in a bid to cut the toll of death and injuries from farm accidents.

Professional trainers from Lantra, the Skills Council for the Land-based and Environmental Sector, are demonstrating seven of the most common causes of accidents before joining staff from HSE's agricultural section for group and one-to-one discussions.

Dr Peter Dodman, the executive's principal agriculture inspector in the North-East, said: "Agriculture is one of the highest risk work activities. The main causes of accidents on farms are vehicles and machinery, falls from a height and lifting/handling injuries.

"Accidents to children are also a particular concern."

Farmers who have been invited but are unable to attend can expect a visit by an HSE Inspector to check the health and safety standards on their premises.

Those who attend will be taken off the immediate inspection programme and given time to apply the instructions they have been given at the event.

Dr Dodman said: "The accident record in agriculture is such that it is a priority sector for the industry and HSE to address.

"These safety awareness days are part of a national programme of similar events aimed at reducing agricultural accidents and they complement the existing methods used by HSE inspectors.

"We hope that farmers attending the events will go back to their farms and put into practice what they have learned."