24 people died on Irish farms last year
Conducted among a representative sample of more than 1,100 farm families earlier this year, the survey reveals a decline in the number of farm accidents since the last major Teagasc survey in 1996. It also shows a significant decline in the number of accidents involving farm machinery.
However, the number of accidents caused by livestock and trips and falls in the farmyard increased.
Anne Finnegan, a Teagasc post-graduate research scientist, based in the UCD Faculty of Agriculture, carried out the survey, which was supported by the Health and Safety Authority.
Livestock were the dominant cause, accounting for over 25% of all accidents. Trips and falls accounted for 22% while machinery accounted for just under 20%.
In the 1996 survey, machinery made up 35% of total farm accidents.
Almost half the victims reported that they had not fully recovered from the injuries sustained in the accident and two out of five accidents resulted in economic loss to the farm business.
The survey also assessed safety practices on farms.
The results show that in spite of the proven dangers of power take-off (PTO) shafts, three out of every 10 farms had tractors with uncovered PTO shafts in 2001. Also, there was no locked storage area for chemicals on one-third of farms.
While 90% of farmers said they were aware of their legal requirements to operate a safe farm, less than 10% had a safety statement.
In the 1996 survey, just 2.5% of farmers had a safety statement.
According to the survey, lung problems and back pain are the major occupational health problems among farmers.
Over 10% of farmers reported ill-health due to farming and in 30% of cases the ill-health was described as persistent.
While half of the farmers admitted they needed more information on health and safety issues, only 5% had sought it during the previous 12 years.
Two-thirds identified Teagasc as the organisation they would first approach for information on health and safety. Twenty per cent said they would go to the Health and Safety Authority, while one in 12 said they would seek information from the farming organisations.
The survey also showed that almost 60% of farmers had incorporated safety measures on their farms during the previous five years and 13% had participated in a training course on health and safety.
