IFA rejects farm safety claim
Tom Dunne, chairman of the IFA environment committee, said the number of fatalities so far this year is too high, but that doesn’t mean good practice is not being followed in the vast majority of cases.
He said it has not been his experience that farmers are hostile to inspections. Since legislation was introduced over 14 years ago, farmers have co-operated fully with safety regulations, he said.
Noting that an HSA report showed a near 90% compliance on farms, Mr Dunne said farmers are aware of key risk areas such as using machinery, handling animals and the protection of children.
He was responding to claims by the HSA that safety is not a priority for many farmers and that it had encountered a degree of hostility while carrying out farm inspections.
Senior inspector Pat Griffin said the HSA is concerned about the rise in the number of fatalities in the farming sector.
“Farmers need to realise that safety is not a hassle but a lifesaver,” he said.
A series of farm inspections conducted during Farm Safety Week in April came up with what the HSA described as worrying results.
It inspected 371 farms, with enforcement action taken in 44 cases (12%). In 21 cases, the risk to safety was so severe that notices shutting down particular activities were served. Carlow, Mayo and Limerick had the highest number of enforcement actions.
Last year, 14 people lost their lives in farm-related accidents.
