Man dies in tractor crash as farm safety concerns raised

ON a day that farmers were warned of the need for increased care in and around farms, the rural community lost another life following a tragic accident in West Cork.

The body of James ‘Jim Bawn’ Murphy was found trapped underneath the cab of his tractor yesterday on an isolated road between Allihies and Urhan.

The alarm was raised just after 9.15am when the 65-year-old single farmer, from Urhan, Eyeries, was found beneath the overturned tractor on a road known locally as the Mine Road. Gardaí in Castletownbere are investigating the accident.

His death occurred on a day when those attending a national conference on farm health and safety were warned it is turning out to be a black year for safety on farms. The number of agriculture-related deaths rose to 18 so far this year, compared with 11 for all of 2009.

Eddie Phillips, a 56-year-old farmer, died when he fell into a slurry tank on his farm at Killare, Co Westmeath, on Tuesday.

Delegates at the conference in Athy, Co Kildare, yesterday observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for all those who had died in farm accidents in the past year.

The major causes of death on farms over the last 10 years have been machinery (49%), livestock (15%), drowning/gas (14%) and falls (10%).

Labour Affairs Minister Dara Calleary, said the statistics make very stark reading. Almost six out of every 10 workplace fatalities so far this year were related to farming, a sector which makes up only 6% of the labour force.

“Any objective observer would rightly conclude that there is something fundamentally amiss.”

Mr Calleary said farm leaders had a key role to play in conveying the message to farmers that effective management of health and safety was crucial in running a successful farm. “The only way forward is for farm organisations to work together in changing the culture so that health and safety is not seen as an optional extra but is top of the agenda for all farmers.”

Health and Safety Authority chief executive Martin O’Halloran urged all farm bodies to make a special effort to improve farm safety. “Farmers need to be alert at all times to health and safety issues, but particular attention is required when working with tractors, machinery and other farm vehicles as these have been associated with the majority of farm deaths so far this year.”

IFA president John Bryan called on farmers to maintain a year-round, high level of vigilance on farm safety.

“Now that much of the harvesting has been done and the school holidays are coming to a close, the temptation may be toreduce the attention given to farm safety.

“As we know from past experience, accidents can occur at any time due to a combination of factors.

“Farmers should continue to examine their farm safety statement and carry out any updates that are needed,” Mr Bryan said.

Teagasc director Gerry Boyle said its training programme on the farm safety code of practice had been designed with the needs of farmers in mind. “They address all the common health and safety issues and offer practical solutions on how to minimise the dangers and reduce the potential for accidents.”