Teagasc open days put farm safety in spotlight

Farmer health and safety is the focus of three Teagasc open days over the next month, which will also focus on new safety regulations.

The young farmers’ capital scheme Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme 2 will be highlighted to farmers at Sheep2015 at Teagasc Athenry, Co Galway, on June 20; also at Crops and Spraying at Teagasc Oak Park, Carlow, on June 24; and again at Teagasc Moorepark 15, a major event for dairy farmers at Fermoy, Co Cork, on July 1.

Teagasc health and safety officer John McNamara said: “One accident is one too many. Thousands of farmers will attend these open days and there is a chance for them to engage with farm safety specialists to reassess the safety precautions on their farms.

“Farmer behaviour in relation to safety is the crucial determinant of accidents. High safety vigilance, particularly in busy summer months, is essential to minimise accident levels.”

In 2014, 30 people died on farms — 54% of all workplace deaths. In the first five months of 2015, five people died on farms, versus 12 for the same period in 2014. Around 2,500 non-fatal accidents causing serious injury occur on farms annually.