Farm deaths prompt safety plea

Just five minutes could save the life of someone on a farm this year, the Health and Safety Authority insisted today.

As it emerged four people had died on farms already in 2006, the organisation appealed to farmers to spend a brief period each day spotting and sorting safety issues on their land.

Safety inspectors are to carry out 500 proactive examinations nationwide in a bid to cut the death toll as part of a new HSA Farm Safety Campaign.

Pat Griffin, Senior Inspector with the Authority, said accidents in agriculture are predictable and preventable.

“Farmers should take just 5 or 10 minutes each day to consider farm safety and put things right before carrying out their work,” he said.

“It may save their life or the life of a family member or close friend.”

A total of 18 people died on farms in 2005. In the past three years 50% of fatal accidents in the sector involved persons over 65 years of age.

Children were involved in some 20% of farm deaths, while over 3,000 accidents causing injury occur each year on Irish farms.

The HSA Farm Safety Campaign will include:

:: Continuing the Authority’s national TV advertising campaign.

:: A safety ad aired in marts nationwide via Farm TV.

:: Distribution of a farm safety DVD.

:: Rolling out the Authority’s Farm Self assessment system.

:: Using the Farm Safety Partnership to spread the safety message through its affiliate organisations.