Sectors unite to combat soaring on-farm accident mortality figures

LEADERS in the farming, industry and health sectors all plan to host safety awareness events in a bid to curb soaring on-farm accident mortality figures.

The latest Health and Safety Authority (HSA) statistics show 29 lives were lost across the country’s farming, forestry and fishing industries in 2010, compared with just 13 in 2009.

Twenty-five of those 29 fatalities were on farms. Farm fatalities effectively increased by 127% from 2009 to 2010, despite the fact that active farmer numbers dropped by 10,000 during that time. As such, the fatality rate rose even more dramatically than the death total initially suggests.

In response, the Ireland branch of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is to launch a new rural industries section in 2011, which will organise safety awareness events, seminars and meetings. The IOSH is a chartered body for health and safety professionals throughout Europe.

IOSH Ireland branch chairman Declan Gibney said: “These figures truly are shocking and are a sad indictment of health and safety across the agricultural industries. Agriculture is an integral part of Irish industry. The sector has seen a lot of positive change in recent years, with great work being done by Teagasc, the IFA, the HSA and others, which makes last year’s figures even more disappointing.

“We believe that we can add some research and development support to what is already being done. Every professional body should do what it can to help reduce those mortality figures. We have had some preliminary talks with Teagasc and others, but the first thing we’re going to do is get our new rural section up and running over the next few months.

“This new rural section will provide a hub for professionals working across the farming, forestry and fishing industries to share ideas and best practice, to help find real solutions to how we can start to turn the tide. We hope it will make a difference to workers on the frontline.”

IOSH is also urging the government to maintain the HSA’s funding to help it safeguard workers’ lives.

Across all industries, the total number of work-related deaths rose by 7% from 43 fatalities in 2009 to 47 in 2010 — farming, forestry and fishing comprised 62% of that toll. This is despite the fact that employment fell from 1,938,500 to 1,859,500 during the same period.

Meanwhile, the IFA is to launch a farm safety campaign later this month, targeting 87,000 members in its network of 947 branches and county executives. IFA farm family committee chairwoman Margaret Healy said the campaign would keep safety to the forefront in the minds of all farm families. She said that a promotional campaign, rather than inspection and enforcement, would be a far more effective method to improve Ireland’s safety record and bring about a real change in culture. She said the IFA will continue to work with the HSA to improve safety on farms.

Macra na Feirme president Michael Gowing also stressed the need to find the right balance between enforcement and promotion.