In 2021, the Livestock Auctioneers’ Association (LAA) launched their MartSafe initiative, designed to promote health and safety in the livestock market. The initiative supports LAA members by providing bespoke health and safety guidance and a training programme for all staff within the livestock market, designed to support existing in-house training and monitoring.
The programme covers 4 key modules, animal behaviour, safe handling, people behaviour & animal welfare through engaging and interactive exercises, practical tasks and relevant videos, delivered in the market by an experienced LAA Trainer.
Within the first year of delivery, the LAA has delivered 52 in-person MartSafe Training sessions, to over 900 participants. The programme has been met with high praise from across industry, and government representatives.
Each year the training is revised and updated allowing members the opportunity to progress through the MartSafe Training Programme on an annual basis.
In 2023, the LAA launched a new MartSafe Online Training Portal to further support the existing training programme.