A reduction in accidents on the farm and improved well being for foreign workers on Danish farms are the objectives of the new interactive e-learning tool “Safety on the farm” that has been developed by the Knowledge Centre for Agriculture. The tool will be used to introduce the thousands of foreign workers that work in Danish agriculture to a safe working environment on the farm.
-We will develop a better working environment and prevent accidents. Accidents that require immediate hospitalisation and accidents that give rise to symptoms such as arthritis and other long term illnesses, such as lung diseases, says Karin Strudsholm, Working Environment Adviser, Planning and Environment Department, Knowledge Centre.
“Safety on the farm” is supported by the Ministry of Employment that will in the next 10 years focus on foreign workers in small businesses with a target of reducing the number of accidents by 25% within 10 years.
The interactive e-learning tool contains 350 pictures, 12 short filmclips and 2 hours talk in English, Russian, Ukrainian, Portuguese, German and Danish. The objective is to influence attitudes through information and discussion with foreign workers.
-The working environment has much to do about attitudes and there are great differences between attitudes depending whether you are coming from Ukraine, Estonia or Brazil. Therefore “safety on the farm” is designed to influence attitudes by foreign workers. The language barrier has been removed by having the tool translated to their mother tongue, says Karin Strudsholm.
Rumanian Stefan Vulpe says that it is important that the material has not only been translated to English but also to other languages. He has worked on a farm in tingle in South Denmark for 2 years and has together with a group of other foreign workers given feedback to “Safety on the farm”.
-It is important for communication that the teaching is undertaken in one’s own language so that all the important details are included. It’s a good project because there are many aspects of safety that a foreign worker does not know about on a large commercial farm in Denmark. For example regarding agricultural machinery, he says.
The Knowledge Centre for Agriculture has invited public employment agencies and local advisers from Danish Agricultural Advisory Service (DAAS) to a meeting about foreign workers to ensure that “Safety on the farm” is known throughout the country.
Safety on the farm:
- Consists of an interactive e-learning tool with 30 pictures, 12 short film clips, and 2 hours presentation in 6 different languages
- Promotes a safer behavior amongst foreign workers on Danish farms
- Freely available fro 1.01.2011 on safetyonthefarm.dk