Alan Gillis stars in safety DVD for older farmers
Gillis and another older farmer, Gerry Maguire, talk to farming journalist and broadcaster, Darragh McCullough, about their experiences and how farming has changed, with more machinery, longer hours and more time pressure.
What makes farming dangerous, and the critical safety issues that come with old age, are also discussed in the 15-minute DVD.
IFA president, John Bryan, has encouraged farmers to watch the DVD (it’s available online at youtube.com/user/HSAOlderWiserSafer?feature=mhee).
Copies of the DVD have been sent to farming bodies, and other organisations that interact with farmers, such as Teagasc. The DVD will be shown at meetings, training, etc.
It’s part of Farm Safety Fortnight, launched this week by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and the Irish Farmers’ Association.
HSA CEO, Martin O’Halloran, said Older, Wiser, Safer is part of an ongoing approach to get farmers to tell their own stories and influence each other on this issue. “I believe that this DVD will resonate, not just with older farmers, but with the wider farming community. Listening to Alan and Gerry speak reinforces the message that planning work, and reducing risks, means that you can farm safely, regardless of age.”
Over the next two weeks, the HSA will be carrying out an increasing number of farm-safety visits, while working with the IFA, and other bodies, to promote safety, with a particular emphasis on older farmers, in the 60-plus age group. The IFA are arranging farm walks, where our inspectors will meet with groups of farmers and take them around farms to see the issues, and offer advice on how to make improvements.
We would encourage farmers to give some time, each day, to farm safety, and, if one of our inspectors visits, engage with them and act on any advice given.
The main cause of death, and serious injury, on farms are accidents involving tractors and machinery. Inspectors will be looking to see that all tractors and machinery are properly maintained and, particularly, that PTO shafts are properly guarded.
Other areas of concern are open slurry pits, working at height, child safety and livestock handling. Inspectors will be requesting that farmers have assessed risks, and put measures in place to minimise those risks.
The Farm Safety Code of Practice, and the online risk assessment tool (www.farmsafely.com), are free resources available to farmers, and need to be used.
The agriculture sector is currently by far the most dangerous sector in Ireland in which to work. You are eight times more likely to suffer a fatal accident at work than the general working population.
Over the last 10 years, there have been 182 people killed, and many more seriously injured, as the result of farm accidents. More than half of these accidents involve farmers over the age of 60. In fact, accidents involving farmers over 55 years of age often account for 70% of farm deaths, so age is a major risk factor that needs to be managed. The main causes of death and injury on farms are tractors and machinery (47%), livestock (13%) and falls from height (12%). This year, there have been two deaths reported due to work activity on farms.
Farmers aged over 60 years of age consistently account for over 50% of farm deaths. These generally involve tractors and machinery, livestock, and falls from height. These are all associated with reduced speed of movement or agility, which suggests that elderly farmers don’t appreciate their reduced capacity. You might survive an accident in your 30s or 40s, but the same accident might be fatal when you are over 60.
Farmers must plan their work to reduce risks. Farmers are being killed, and seriously injured, on a daily basis in preventable accidents. The consequences of their actions can be devastating, both for themselves and their families. Farmers must think of the bigger picture, plan their work, stop taking risks, and take personal responsibility for carrying out their day-to-day work in a safe manner. Farming organisations must play their part in supporting farmers to work better and work safer. If you, as a farmer, find yourself constantly rushing, under time pressures, taking shortcuts and taking risks, it’s time you stopped and gave some thought to your whole way of working. Planning and looking at efficiencies will improve how you farm and may also save your life.
