Eleven deaths on farms this year lead to call for vigilance

WITH  three deaths on farms in the last month, and 11 overall this year, the Health and Safety Authority and the Irish Farmers Association, have come together to urge farmers to give safety their highest priority. Pat Griffin, senior inspector – agriculture with the HSA, is concerned that with ground conditions so poor after the prolonged wet weather, farmers will be at even greater risk when carrying out work on the land. “With such poor ground conditions across most parts of the country the risks from tractors and machinery getting stuck, breaking down, sliding or even over-turning is greatly increased.

“ Farmers should plan their work, consider these increased risks and have plans in place to put things right”.
IFA’s Margaret Healy, meanwhile, has urged farmers to maintain a high level of vigilance on farm safety to minimise the risk of accidents, particularly given the bad weather this summer as farm work is being carried out in adverse conditions and frustrations are increased. 
“IFA are currently running a ‘Think Safety – Farm Safely’ campaign throughout the country, which is focused on the awareness, promotion and education of farm safety.  The IFA Farm Safety leaflet encourages farmers and their families to maintain the highest standards on their farms and thereby reduce the number of injuries and deaths”.
The deaths in recent weeks bring the loss of life on farms this year to 11.
Working with tractors and machinery remains the high risk activity (six deaths), while working with livestock has also proved dangerous with bull attacks and cow attacks resulting in three deaths.  
A further two deaths occurred as a result of drowning and a falling bale.  Those over 65 years of age are at greatest risk as they account for almost half of these deaths.