Plan to cut fatal accidents on farms
The plan, produced by the Farm Safety Action Group, aims to cut the number of accidents to less than 1,600 per annum the figure for 2001 was 3,100.
Launched as Farm Safety Week began, the plan notes that there were 24 fatal accidents in 2001 and that 13 of these occurred with tractors and machinery.
Four people were killed by bulls, while slurry accidents and falls from heights caused two deaths each. Minister of State Noel Treacy said in the last decade 200 people, including 43 children, had lost their lives in farming accidents.
Thousands more sustain serious injuries every year.
"These are shocking statistics and reveal the enormous pain and suffering endured by the farming community every year.
"This cannot continue," he said.
It proposes a minimum of 1,000 farm inspections per annum and a 10-50% increase in farmers complying with health and safety legislation.
Five thousand farmers are to receive training in health and safety per annum.
Research is also to be carried out into methods of achieving attitude change among farmers to health and safety issues. Engineering solutions are to be identified, specific health and safety promotional campaigns undertaken and a HSA database for farm inspections planned.
Minister Treacy said that a national study last year showed that 29% of farms did not have all power take-off shafts covered. And 67% of farms had no locked storage area for chemicals; 85% had brakes on tractors checked only once a year or even less, and 36% had no protective clothing for use while handling chemicals.
He said the HSA decided that Farm Safety Week this year should embrace areas of activity on farms where farmers and their families are most at risk.
These are machine operation; child safety; livestock handling; dealing with chemical agents; working at heights and manual handling of heavy materials.
Farm Safety Action Group chairman Frank Laffey said it proposed various activities to meet specific targets for safety.
These revolve around the three Es engineering, enforcement and education. "Farmers should see this plan as both challenging and supportive of their efforts to improve safety standards.
"All farmers must become involved and make safety a priority.
"Farm accidents are preventable and with a positive approach farmers can achieve this goal," he said.
HSA chairman Frank Cunneen said it was a great source of concern that farm accidents and farm fatalities still caused an untold degree of tragedy and pain in the farming community.
The figures compiled by the Farm Safety Action Group should act as a wake-up call to everyone involved in farming.
Safety must be a priority, he said.
