Agri-workers eight times more likely to die on the job

Farmers are eight times more likely than those in the general labour force to die in a workplace accident, according to the Health and Safety Authority.

An average of 19 people die in farm-related accidents every year, with a total of 194 deaths in the last decade.

To date in 2016, there have been 14 farm deaths, seven which related to tractors or farm machinery. Livestock and falls from a height accounted for two each. Of those who died, one was a child and four were farmers over 65 years of age.