Probe as man, 26, dies in farm accident

Two investigations are underway following the death of a man in a farm accident in West Cork.

Gardaí and the Health and Safety Authority are conducting separate probes into the circumstances of Conor Whelton’s death on his family’s farm around 6km from Clonakilty.

Mr Whelton, 26, left the family home at the townland of Knockea in Lyre, near Clonakilty, on Thursday evening to do some work on the farm.

However, when he failed to return several hours later, his father went to look for him and discovered his son’s body under a trailer in the farmyard.

Gardaí and the emergency services were alerted but Mr Whelton was pronounced dead at the scene.

His remains were removed to Cork University Hospital for an autopsy to establish the exact cause of death.

Gardaí sealed off the scene of the accident and garda technical experts examined a tractor and trailer yesterday.

The HSA is liaising with gardaí and their findings will feed into the garda file which is being prepared for the coroner’s court.

However, gardaí at Bandon, who are investigating the incident, said they are treating Mr Whelton’s death as a tragic accident.

In 2008, there were 21 fatal accidents in the agriculture and forestry sectors.

There was a drastic reduction to 11 deaths in 2009, but the figures have risen steadily to 25 in 2010; 22 in 2011; and 21 in 2012.

The 2012 deaths accounted for almost 44% of all deaths in Irish workplaces that year, even though the farming sector accounts for just 6% of the working population.

However, there was a reduction in recorded fatalities in the sector again last year to 16 — including four children.

The HSA launched a major farm safety action plan last year to foster “a culture of safety” in agriculture.

Overall, a farmer is up to eight times more likely to be killed in a work-related accident compared to the general working population.

Older farmers are particularly at risk. Accidents involving farmers over the age of 55 account for about 70% of farm-based deaths.

The HSA has found the main causes of death and injury on farms are tractors and machinery (47%), livestock (13%), and falls from a height (12%).

A recent national survey conducted by Teagasc found that about 2,500 non-fatal accidents causing injury take place each year on Irish farms.

The HSE has produced an online farm risk assessment tool, which is available at farmsafely.com.