Deaths on farms reach 15 for 2010 compared with 11 for 2009

FIFTEEN people have died as a result of accidents on farms so far this year compared with 11 for the whole of 2009.

More than half of these fatalities occurred in counties Cork, Kerry and Clare, with the remainder mainly in midland counties and counties on the east coast.

Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith, replying last week to a Dáil question by Waterford Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Kenneally, said that he was deeply concerned with the level of safety on the country’s farms.

He said he fully supports the work of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), the national body responsible for securing health and safety at work.

Mr Smith said that he strongly supports the HSA and Farm Safety Partnership’s Farm Safety Action Plan 2009-2012.

The plan identifies seven goals aimed at preventing farm accidents and fatalities.

It also contains the commitments given to farm health and safety by different organisations, including his own department.