Safety warning for farmers
Farming is one of the most dangerous occupations in Ireland. Last year, it had the highest fatal accident rate of all industry sectors with 20 people, including two children, losing their lives. In 2004, there have already been seven deaths.
A survey by the Central Statistics Office last year revealed over 4,800 people were injured in farm related activities over the previous 12 months.
HAS chief executive Tom Beegan said farmers need to accept that their farms are dangerous places, with real risks to themselves and others including children. Farms are the only workplaces where children are consistently the victims of accidents.
“There seems to be a culture of denial about the risks, and so they are ignored. Until there is a change in the way farmers view safety, and they commit to prioritising the elimination of risks, these terrible accidents will continue,” he said.
Mr Beegan reminded farmers that they have a legal obligation to report accidents to the HAS, whose 2004 Farm Safety Week programme revealed that only 20% of farms surveyed had completed their farm safety statement.
A primary concern is the low levels of compliance with safety requirements surrounding farm machinery. Only 60% of farms surveyed were satisfactorily compliant with regulations. Machinery is still the main cause of serious injuries and fatalities on farms.
