Safety seminars after nine deaths in farm-related accidents this year
Health and Safety Authority senior inspector Pat Griffin said vehicles and machinery are generally involved in more than 50% of fatal incidents each year. Last year 20% of all workplace deaths occurred in agriculture and forestry, while just 6% of the working population is employed in the sector.
John McNamara, Teagasc health and safety officer, said a long-term study of farm deaths between 1993 and 2008 indicates an increasing trend of farm deaths on dairy farms. He said 58% of all farm deaths occurred on dairy farms over the period 2000-2007 compared with 16% for the period 1993-1999.
