Tragedies on farms: Renew efforts

The latest farm accident in which a young girl died and a friend was very seriously injured in North Cork means five children have died on farms this year. In total, 23 people have died in farm accidents so far this year.

Those figures are a cause for considerable concern especially as they are so very far ahead of figures recorded last year. This time last year, just 10 people had died and the toll for the full year was just 16, two thirds of the number killed so far this year.

These tragic figures have been recorded despite a growing awareness of the many dangers on farms and considerable efforts to encourage a new culture of responsibility. One farm organisation has gone so far as to suggest that farm safety be made part of school work in rural areas.

It would be almost impossible to make farms completely safe, especially as so many farmers work alone and do not have the luxury of help or company. Nevertheless, in the face of these awful figures a renewed effort to change habits and make farms safer seems necessary.