New code of practice drawn up in a bid to improve health and safety in agriculture
In 2006, 18 people died in the agricultural sector, the same figure as 2005. Ten of these fatalities involved people aged over 65, and there were two child fatalities.
Eight of the fatal farm accidents occurred in Cork, out of the county’s total of 11 workplace fatalities.
There was a sharp reduction in the number of deaths in construction, nearly halved, from 23 to 12.
Over 7,000 non-fatal work injuries were reported to the Health and Safety Authority in 2006.
Michael Henry, deputy CEO of the authority said, “While the reduction in the numbers killed in the construction sector is welcome, we must be seriously concerned that there has not been a reduction in the numbers being killed on our farms. Farmers are still taking chances at work and it is clearly not worth it”.
He said €1.5 million has been spent on the new Code of Practice in Agriculture and an associated media campaign, making it the biggest single farm safety effort ever mounted in Ireland.
“We can reduce the numbers of fatalities and serious accidents on farms by using the code and making farm safety a priority in 2007”. He said the figures were proof of the need for the development of a national culture of workplace health and safety.
