Celebrating individuals or businesses who have championed health and safety, promoted best practise and worked closely with employees or the wider industry to reduce incidents
James Bannister
Former chairman of the National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) and contractor James Bannister has spoken openly about the impact an on-farm accident had on his life and how a split-second lapse in concentration can have devastating impacts. Despite losing an arm due to the accident, James has continued to work tirelessly within the industry and acts as an ambassador for the industry’s efforts to improve health and safety. He works with the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) for Farm Safety Week, appearing on news programmes to discuss his accident, and has spoken to contractors on behalf of the NAAC across the length and breadth of the UK.
He is also a supporter of the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, who were key to getting James to a hospital in a timely manner after his accident. His work both as a contractor and as an advocate for health and safety within the industry act as both a warning of the dangers within agriculture and proof that an injury does not have to stop you from doing what you love.
Marc Skivington (Smart Farmer)
Aberdeenshire farmer Marc Skivington set up Smart Farmer in 2018 for daily machinery checks, with an integrated QR code system that could be used to log any issues found. Last year, the app went through a complete overhaul, with new functionality added to not only minimise on-farm paperwork, but to minimise the risk of accidents and improve health and safety on-farm.
The updated 2.0 version includes daily start checklists, as well as machine records and manuals to ensure safe use of equipment. If a fault is found and reported, the farm manager receives a notification to enable proactive repairs or servicing. Perhaps more relevant to the health and safety of staff is the lone workers functionality, which not only notifies managers if problems are recorded when a worker is alone, but enables workers to be located quickly if needed. An SOS button is included within the mobile app, so workers can access help.
Field hazards can also be recorded, enabling managers to inform workers of potential issues or areas to avoid, or allowing workers to record new hazards. Bespoke risk assessments can be created within the system, as well as records of any training undertaken, with bespoke training programmes available to share with members of staff and multiple-choice questionnaires to keep them up to date.
The 2026 National Arable and Grassland Awards will be handed out in a ceremony at the end of the first Agronomy Exchange event. For more information, head to www.agronomyexchange.com