# Farm Occupational Safety Management and Attitudes: navigating challenges and cultivating change - Savonia AMK

> The article focuses on farm occupational safety management and attitudes of farmers, based on the 3 speeches presented at the second workshop meeting of the Finnish Community of Practice (FinCoP).

## Workshop Overview
On March 15, 2024, the second workshop meeting of the Finnish Community of Practice (FinCoP) of the Safehabitus project took place remotely. The event brought together 20 members representing the following organizations:

*   Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
*   Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution
*   Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK)
*   Agricultural Entrepreneur’s Holiday Unit
*   ProAgria
*   Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
*   Natural Resources Institute Finland
*   Savonia University of Applied Sciences

The workshop focused on farm occupational safety management and attitudes, featuring insights from two experts and one farmer, followed by a Padlet survey to explore participant views.

## Expert and Farmer Perspectives

### Elina Vehviläinen-Liikka: Attitudes and Systemic Barriers
Elina Vehviläinen-Liikka noted that while occupational safety is not underestimated on farms, it is often neglected due to haste, limited workforce, peak workloads, equipment deficiencies, fatigue, stress, and cost pressures. She emphasized the importance of planning for scenarios where a key person is unable to work. She advocates for practicing risky situations to prepare for future challenges and highlights the importance of utilizing support networks. She raised a critical question: can we truly claim to prioritize safety if we continue to overlook the systemic barriers farmers face daily?

### Petri Koivisto: Management and Efficiency
Petri Koivisto discussed the intersection of business management—strategic, operational, and production—with safety. Using the Eisenhower matrix as a framework, he argued that focus should be placed on "non-urgent and important" tasks. He noted that reactive problem management creates urgency, which prevents the recognition of risks. He questioned whether the traditional leadership goal of "working for tomorrow" is still relevant in an environment of continuous rush, asking: are we inadvertently sacrificing safety on the altar of efficiency?

### Hanna-Liisa Nousiainen: Cultivating a Safety Culture
Farmer Hanna-Liisa Nousiainen highlighted that a farm is a complex entity where physical and mental aspects are intertwined. She challenged participants to consider how to cultivate a culture of safety that transcends mere compliance and becomes ingrained in everyday life, envisioning a future where farmers can work without fear of harm.

## Future Steps
At the conclusion of the workshop, participants used Padlet to map a path forward, sharing perspectives on farm attitudes, characteristics of a safe farm, and proposals for improvement. 

FinCoP continues its work focusing on themes relevant to the Finnish dairy sector. The next meeting is scheduled for the end of May 2024, focusing on best practices and challenges regarding the farmers’ holiday and stand-in scheme.

## Contact Information
**Agnieszka Laherto and Mika Repo**
SafeHabitus Project
agnieszka.laherto@savonia.fi
mika.repo@savonia.fi