Initiative addresses farm accidents
It is a joint initiative between the Health and Safety Authority and Teagasc and will support the national farm safety plan objective of cutting accidents by 50%.
The initiative aims to ensure farmers with three or less employees complete and implement a new comprehensive but user-friendly farm risk assessment as required by new legislation.
Currently, fewer than 30% of farmers have completed any form of safety risk assessment.
Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan said the continuing high level of farm accidents is of great concern.
So far this year 15 deaths have taken place, two higher than last year’s total for the same period.
A 10-year review of farm deaths found 30% of accidents occurred during the winter months up to January, with 70% occurring to persons aged over 65.
Labour Affairs Minister Tony Killeen said the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005, which came into force on September 1, greatly simplifies the task of complying with health and safety law by farmers.
Teagasc director Jim Flanagan said the joint initiative will involve provision of training on the new risk assessment document at specially convened health and safety courses for farmers and provision of follow-up advice.
The initiative will be piloted among dairy and tillage farmers in counties Cork (West), Clare, Donegal, Meath, Tipperary (North) and Wexford.
Tom Beegan, chief executive, Health and Safety Authority, said a 10-year review of farm deaths clearly shows most accidents could be prevented by greater awareness and at little cost.
The key requirement to improve the safety record is for farmers to give safety more commitment.
Mr Beegan said while the new legislation allowed for measures including on-the-spot fines, the Health and Safety Authority wished to devote most of its resources to accident and ill-health prevention initiatives.
Health and Safety officer John McNamara, who will lead the Teagasc participation in the project, said tractor and machinery account for 45% of fatalities over the winter months. Falls and collapsing loads account for 27% of farm deaths. Animal attacks make up 12% of deaths mainly due to being struck by cattle.
