Farmers urged to put safety first

THE danger to people on farms cannot be underestimated, the ICSA president Malcolm Thompson warned as he called on farmers to be particularly diligent on safety this week, as it is European Week for Health and Safety at Work.

Last year 18 people died, including two children and nine pensioners, and it is believed that more than 3,000 were seriously injured in accidents on farms across Ireland.

Mr Thompson urged all farmers and their families to familiarise themselves with the new code of practice governing safety on the farm, which will be posted to every farm within four to six weeks.