Despite major effort fatalities are on increase

Up to 2010, when there was a huge upsurge, farm related fatalities were gradually decreasing. 

But since then a high rate of fatalities has continued. Despite a huge effort by all concerned with farm safety the situation seems to be getting worse with a record 21 deaths up to end of August this year. This represents more than 40% of all work place accidents despite farming being only a small percentage of the work place.

Farmers’ health and safety is a serious matter; it can be the most important factor affecting the lives of families. In recent years the subject is rightly getting huge coverage in TV, radio and the press as well as safety courses and lectures. But unfortunately it’s not reducing farm fatalities.

The initiative launched by Teagasc and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) was based on a “user friendly” Code of Practice Risk Assessment document permitted by a 2005 Safety Act. This enables most farmers to keep written documentation to a minimum as an alternative to completing a safety statement.

A senior HSA officer has admitted that the “softly, softly” approach of the past has not worked and a stronger approach is needed to reduce accidents. A national survey indicates that a high proportion of farmers do not complete the Code of Practice Risk Assessment document which they are obliged to do by law.

The HSA are threatening to prosecute farmers who fail to complete the document while the farm organisations are against that approach. Farmers are in no position to be paying fines but perhaps the serious threat of prosecution would help remind them to go to identify risks and fill out the code of good practice document.

Minister Coveney has suggested tying the risk assessment document to Cross Compliance which in hindsight might not be a bad idea because nothing else seems to be working.

Fewer Farmers But More Accidents

Data from Teagasc and the Health and Safety Authority indicates that serious farm accidents and fatalities increased in the 10 years up to 2007 despite a huge drop in the number of people involved in farming. There was a reduction in fatalities in 2007 to 2011. Unfortunately there was a reversal in 2008 to a more usual numbers of 21 fatalities as well as over 2,000 serious non fatal accidents. Since then fatalities and accidents have remained unacceptably high reaching a spike in 2014.

Analysis of Accidents

The biggest killer on Irish Farms is contact with vehicles or machines accounting for 48% of the tragedies involving crushing and entanglement. The tractor is the most frequent vehicle involved in fatal injury— involved in 56% of incidents. PTO shafts and augers not properly protected posed a major problem in the past. Fortunately there have been no deaths from these in the last three years due to positive action.

Some years, animals were involved in up to 20% of fatal accidents. A notable recent trend with livestock accidents is a rise in the number of fatal accidents associated with freshly calved cows. Teagasc Health and Safety officer recommends that farmers should adapt facilities to minimise contact with freshly calved cows. Good handling facilities for all livestock are essential . Up to 65% of farm accidents are associated with livestock.

Dairy farming accounts for one third of farm deaths despite only employing one eighth of the agricultural workforce. The majority of deaths occur during the day, peaking between 11am and 12 pm. People under 14 years and over 60 make up more than half the fatalities.

An analysis of fatal farm accidents indicated the 10 year trend in farm deaths showed vehicles and machinery were involved in 48% of cases, animals 14%, drowning/gasses (slurry) 11%, falls 11%, building collapses and falling objects 7% and tree felling 7%.