LAA initiatives making the mart and farming environment a safer place

As part of its on-going initiative to promote health and safety in the livestock market and wider farming environment, the Livestock Auctioneers’ Association (LAA) has launched MartSafe 3.0, the third year of curriculum for its in-person training programme for livestock market staff.

The MartSafe Training programme addresses the key requirements and responsibilities within livestock markets, providing specialist advice, training and information on best practice through engaging and interactive exercises, practical tasks and relevant video, delivered in-person by an LAA trainer.

Originally launched in 2022, the bespoke health and safety training programme has been met with high praise from across industry and government, with the LAA delivering sessions to over 2,000 participants within the first two years.

“Since launching the initiative, we have developed the curriculum, year-on-year, incorporating recaps of core topics from previous sessions,  whilst adding new and relevant content to the programme, all based around the four key pillars of animal behaviour, safe handling, people behaviour and animal welfare,” explains Zanna Dennis, LAA development officer.

“This year, we are pleased to be working with the DPJ Foundation to include a specialist training unit based around mental health and suicide awareness for market staff, recognising the growing industry crisis and important role market staff play in engaging with and supporting our farming communities,” she adds.

Designed to support market staff to recognise and address the signs of poor mental health or suicide, and provide signposts to further professional support, this new module is a key  addition. 

“Our livestock markets are proven to be a crucial touchpoint for the farming community. Quite often the auctioneer, or market staff, are the shoulder to lean on, or the only ear for farmers to share their concerns or anxieties, and often these are concerns hidden from family and colleagues,” continues Ms Dennis.

“To provide training for our market staff to identify and be aware of issues that may well manifest into something more serious, we feel is a very welcome addition to our training programme,” she says.

“It also lends itself to the wider issue of safety in the workplace, and looking after yourself. We all know that if you are not 100% focussed on the job in hand, and your attention is drawn to wider concerns, this is when accidents are more likely to happen.”

Kate Miles, charity manager of the DPJ Foundation, who are kindly supporting this new training unit, says, “The livestock market is a vital hub for livestock farmers and is more than simply a place to trade stock.  It provides a chance to connect, share concerns and update on the industry.  Market staff play a vital role as familiar and trusted faces and are really well placed to notice if someone is not themselves.  

“When the LAA asked to work with us on creating their MartSafe module, we jumped at the chance as this is a key way to build confidence amongst market staff and reach more people within the industry,” she adds.

Alongside the new mental health awareness training unit, MartSafe 3.0 continues to cover the four core training units of animal behaviour, safe handling, people behaviour and animal welfare. Each unit includes new content such as, low stress handling and the impact on carcass quality, safe handling of machinery and equipment and public perception. 

Updated every 12 months, the MartSafe Training programme provides LAA member markets with an effective and engaging annual training tool to support markets in creating a safe environment for staff, customers and livestock alike.

This also aligns closely with the key messaging heading into Farm Safety Week (22-26 July). This year’s campaign again highlights some of the key challenges farmers and farm workers face every day, while throwing a spotlight on the dangers of ignoring near misses.

As Farm Safety Week reminds farmers that, while they cannot eliminate risk completely, they can minimise it, and learn from every near miss to improve their working practices, so the same principles apply behind MartSafe. 

“Market staff are essential to the smooth operation of the livestock auction market. They have a key role in ensuring that the highest standards of animal health and welfare are met at all times, and equally the health and safety of all staff, users and visitors of the livestock market,” explains Chris Dodds, LAA executive secretary.

As well as endorsements from across industry, including recognition from Defra and the Welsh Government, the training programme has also struck a chord with experienced auctioneers, fieldsmen and market staff.

“We have received comments from people with over 45-years-experience within the industry, who have turned around and told us they have learnt something new,” says Ms Dennis.

“That is key, and is why we continue to develop the programme and introduce new elements each year to support our members’ existing in-house training and monitoring.” she concludes.

If you wish to find out more about our MartSafe Training Programme, please contact:

Zanna Dennis

LAA Development Officer 

E: [email protected]

Photo Credit: Farmers Marts