Seminars planned to highlight high rates of fatalities on farms

A NUMBER of seminars are to be held by the Health and Safety Authority and Teagasc in areas with high rates of farm fatalities.

Fatal accidents on farms increased nationally from 11 in 2007 to 21 last year, almost a 100% rise.

Farming accounted for about 40% of all workplace fatalities in 2008 even though just over 6% of the workforce is employed in the sector.