Health and safety advocate scoops Farming Champion award

A farmer who promotes health and safety after suffering a life threatening accident at work has been crowned the NFU Farming Champion of the Year at the Farmers Weekly awards.

James Chapman picked up the prestigious accolade last night during a glittering ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House hotel. The award is given to an individual who has shown outstanding commitment to communicating farming to the public.

In 2005 he lost his left arm in a devastating injury while using a pto-driven vacuum tanker on the farm. He became trapped in the machinery, dragged on to the shaft and thrown over the tractor.

Mr Chapman now travels the country promoting health and safety and encouraging farm workers to take more care. He works with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and has been pivotal in the success of the ’Make the Promise’ campaign.

NFU President Peter Kendall said: "James Chapman is a remarkable young man. Through his bravery in being prepared to talk so starkly about the terrible injury he suffered in 2005, he has brought home the importance of safety on farms, to the younger generation of farmers in particular, in a way that no amount of preaching or PR could ever achieve.

"I have no doubt that many serious accidents have been avoided, thanks to James’ testimony and the impact it has had.

"But there is much more to James Chapman than that. In the way he has led the Young Farmers’ movement, and the way he speaks to audiences of all types, he stands for all that is best about the coming generation of farmers: their dynamism, their work ethic, their belief in their industry and their determination to succeed. His courage and his commitment are an example and an inspiration to us all."