Winning strokes – pupils use artwork to deliver safety messages
Twelve primary school pupils from across Northern Ireland are being celebrated today after their winning artwork has been transformed into a new calendar.
The drawings and illustrations by the students, aged six to 11-years-old, were successfully chosen from thousands of entries to be featured in the latest ‘Avoid Harm on the Farm’ calendar from the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI).
The competition challenged pupils to visually interpret critical farm safety messages including the dangers of working at heights, staying safe around slurry, carrying a phone if you’re working alone and not using the farm as a playground.
Speaking during a special event at to launch HSENI Chief Executive Robert Kidd said it was a difficult job picking the 12 winners as the quality of the entries was outstanding.
“It’s inspiring to see so many children grasp the seriousness of safety issues on our farms and then visually express the dangers and risks with these very meaningful pictures. They have been able to transform key safety measures into very simple and impactful visual actions,” he said.
“Sadly, in Northern Ireland farming remains one of the most dangerous occupations with 58 work-related fatalities from 2014 to 2024. So, it is vital that we continue to engage with children from an early age to educate them and their farming families on how to minimise risks and prevent accidents. I believe this year’s calendar delivers those serious farm safety messages in a fun, engaging and straightforward way.”
The 12 winners are:
January - James Moran (6) from Moat PS, Co Fermanagh
February - Cal Fallis (10) from Irvinestown PS, Co Fermanagh
March - Kyler Brown from Lisanally Special School, Co Armagh
April – Arón Birkett, (11) from Mary Queen of Peace PS, Co Antrim
May – Ellie Doyle (7) from Grange PS, Co Down
June – Travis Clarke from Lisanally Special School, Co Armagh
July – Georgia McElwaine (10) from Moat PS, Co Fermanagh
August – Niamh McGovern (6) from St Martin’s PS, Co Fermanagh
September – Katie Mulrone (6) from St Martin’s PS, Co Fermanagh
October – Meaghan Bannon (7) from St Joseph’s PS, Co Fermanagh
November – Katie Murray (10) from Mary Queen of Peace PS, Co Antrim
December - Harry Moffitt from Florencecourt PS, Co Fermanagh
The competition was launched in June this year and was open to rural primary school pupils (foundation, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2) and pupils from Special Schools in Northern Ireland.
All the winners each received a £50 gift voucher from Yellow Wellies’ Farm Safety Foundation.
“The Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) were delighted to support the ‘Avoid Harm on the Farm’ calendar competition this year,” said Manager Stephanie Berkeley.
“We were truly impressed by the creativity and thoughtfulness shown by those who took the time to enter. Their passion for farm safety shone through every design and these images will take pride of place in kitchens across the land all year reminding us that together, we can grow safer farmers and safer farms,” she added.
The calendar was sponsored by Farm Safety Partnership members and affiliates: Power NI, Abbey Autoline, Northern Ireland Safety Group, DAERA, LANTRA and Lakeland Dairies.
For more information about child safety on farms visit: www.hseni.gov.uk/topics/farm-safety
