Fears farm deaths will rise

A senior health and safety inspector has expressed serious concerns for farm safety this year following the worst year for farm deaths in almost 20 years in 2014.

Health and Safety Authority Senior Inspector Pat Griffin said he feared further high levels of farm fatalities due to pressure on farmers with a series of factors unfolding this year.

Changes to agricultural output that could put farmers under additional pressure include the lifting of the ban on Irish beef imports to the USA, an end to milk quotas from March, and farmers face the prospect of bringing some 750,000 heifers to calf this year. High risk factors leading to farm accidents include rushed procedures and fatigue, Mr Griffin said.

Using a graphic series of images of death scenes on Irish farms, Mr Griffin illustrated to farmers how machinery, slurry pits, livestock, and electricity on farms present high-risk dangers.

Children and the elderly are most vulnerable, Mr Griffin told a National Irish Safety Organisation farm safety seminar in Mallow, Co Cork.

Farmers in the 65 to 95 age bracket represent a higher risk due to reduced agility. In certain years over 65s have accounted for almost 60% of farm deaths.

In 2009, however, no farmers aged over 65 were killed in work-related accidents.

“That year, deaths to over-65s disappeared,” said Mr Griffin. “Every construction site in the country shut, all the young people went home to work the land. The following year they left for Australia, New Zealand, Canada. That’s my theory. People over 65 weren’t killed because there was more help around.

“Deaths are only the tip of the iceberg. There has not been one successful reattached amputation resulting from a farm accident. It’s because they are so badly mangled.”