Older farmers most likely to be killed in work-related accidents

Fourteen elderly farmers, a 94-year-old man, and a one-year-old toddler were among those killed in workplace accidents in 2017.

A total of 47 people — 45 of them male — lost their lives in various incidents, but half of all of the deaths occurred on farms, making farming the deadliest occupation for the eighth year in a row.

Older farmers were most at risk as 14 of the 24 people killed on farms were over the age of 65. The Health and Safety Authority said the tragedies pointed to a need for a culture change on Irish farms.