Farm safety an all-island problem

FARM safety presents challenges common to the whole island, a north-south conference was told in Monaghan yesterday.

Labour Affairs Minister Billy Kelleher said occupational safety is a natural field for pragmatic co-operation.

“We should share our experiences and promote best practice to reduce accidents on farms throughout Ireland,” he said.

Mr Kelleher, who was officially opening the first all-island conference on farm safety, said he hopes a reduction in serious and fatal accidents can be achieved through sharing ideals and common goals.

Tom Elliot, MLA and vice-chairman, Northern Ireland Agriculture Committee, said farmers need and deserve support and assistance to make their farms safe places to work and live.

So far this year there have been 10 fatal accidents on farms in the Republic and six on farms in the North.

The Health and Safety Authority and the Health and Safety Executive of Northern Ireland have identified significant similarities in the kind of farming accidents and fatalities they investigate.

Health and Safety Authority chief executive Martin O’Halloran urged farming organisations and associations to use their influence on farmers with regard to their own and their families’ safety and health.

Experts from Ireland and from Sweden presented findings to the conference from recent studies on strategies to improve the safety and health record of the farming sector.