Farming Safety: 20 lives on the line every year
Farmers are unlikely to be less safety conscious than the rest of society, but obviously there are more risks working around farms than in places like shops and offices.
However, with due care and attention these risks can be minimised, and farming can be a healthy and satisfying occupation.
Unless there are big changes, there will be about 20 fatal accidents and 2,000 to 3,000 serious accidents on farms every year.
The high rate of deadly farm accidents has continued in 2011, with 19 fatalities up to mid-October, following a huge upsurge in 2010, unfortunately.
The rate of fatal farm accidents per 100,000 farmers in Ireland is 60% higher than in Britain, and double that of some EU countries.
Almost 50% of fatal accidents in the Irish workplace occur on farms, although only 6.5% of Irish workers are engaged in agriculture.
In addition, up to 3,000 people are injured on farms each year. The level of injuries on farms has risen 50% in the past 10 years.
A few years ago, Teagasc and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) jointly launched a initiative to improve the situation on farms. This was based on a new “user-friendly” code of practice risk assessment document permitted by a 2005 safety act. This enables most farmers who are obliged to complete a safety statement to keep written documentation to a minimum.
But a national survey indicates that more than 44% of farmers do not complete the code of practice risk assessment document, although obliged to do so by law.
A senior HSA officer has admitted that that “softly, softly” approach of the past has not worked, and a stronger approach is needed to reduce accidents.
The HSA are threatening to prosecute farmers who fail to complete the document, the farm organisations are strongly against that approach — but perhaps a more serious threat of prosecution will help remind them to go through their farms to identify risks and fill out the code of good practice document.
Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has suggested tying the risk assessment document to cross compliance.
* Recent Data:
Up to mid-October, there have been 19 fatalities due to farm accidents, according to provisional figures from the Health and Safety Authority. According to Teagasc health and safety officer John McNamara, many farm deaths can be prevented.
He points out that in Denmark, zero fatalities are often achieved, on the back of strong promotion by stakeholders, and back-up enforcement action.
The Teagasc safety officer sees interest and engagement by farmers as the really important issues.
“About 90% of all accidents have a human behaviour element, so farm safety prevention programmes cannot succeed unless they connect with farmers.”
In the months from October to March, as part of the Teagasc/Health and Safety Authority initiative, farmers are invited to attend half-day courses on completing and implementing the legally required farm safety risk assessment document.
By completing a risk assessment and acting on it, farmers are reducing the risk of injury and fulfilling their legal duty and actively managing the risk on their farms.
Farmers should attend one of these courses, which are being held in every county. Dates and venues are available from local Teagasc offices.
There is strong evidence to indicate that a short training course assists farmers in implementing health and safety measures.
For example, in some countries, there was a 48% reduction in accidents when farmers attended a half-day training course and carried out a farm safety check.
The Health and Safety Authority and Teagasc greatly appreciate the very active and strong support of farm leaders in promoting farm health and safety.
These organisations have contacted their members to remind them of the legal duty to complete a risk assessment, and the availability of the Teagasc training.
