IFA to intensify promotion of safety after rise in farm accident fatalities

A PLEDGE to intensify its efforts to promote safety on farms has been given by the Irish Farmers’ Association to Labour Affairs Minister Dara Calleary.

Among the initiatives in the submission are safety training courses for farmers through IFA Skillnet, the promotion of a new online risk assessment service at branch and county meetings and a farm safety media campaign.

The move follows a significant surge in farm- related accidental deaths to nine so far this year, compared with 11 for all of last year.

IFA President John Bryan urged all farm families to be particularly vigilant as they face into the busy harvesting season.

“I would appeal to all farm families to ensure that safety is a priority during what will be the busiest time of year on farms.

“The pressures and stresses of modern day farming should not in any way diminish the necessity to carry out work in a safe manner,” he said.

IFA Farm Family Committee chairwoman Margaret Healy said the statistics so far this year highlight the need for improvement in the sector.

Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith earlier repeated his concern that nine people have lost their lives on farms so far in 2010 and again appealed to all farmers to make health and safety a priority.

Tractors and machinery, livestock and falls are the most common causes of fatalities on farms.

Mr Smith urged farmers to ensure that PTO (power take off) shafts have proper guards in place and that all safety features on tractors and machinery are in proper working order.

He also urged people to take proper precautions when handling livestock and to be extra vigilant at this time of year with cows calving.

He called on people to ensure that proper harnesses and safety equipment are used when working from heights.

He said the majority of accidents on farms are foreseeable and with proper health and safety management and planning they can be avoided.

The minister urged farmers to take time to identify risks and to plan safety in their daily routine as the human tragedy that surrounds the loss of a life to a farm accident cannot be comprehended.

Meanwhile, Teagasc and the South-Eastern district of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) Ireland Branch will co-host an event on “Farm Health and Safety from an International Perspective” at Kildalton College, Piltown, Co Kilkenny at 2pm on May 11.

Dr David Knowles of the ADAS group of companies will discuss the British approach to health and safety on farms and John McNamara, National Health and Safety Officer with Teagasc, will give international comparisons of health and safety performance in agriculture.