Two men have been killed in separate farm accidents this morning, the Health and Safety Authority has confirmed.
A man in his 20s has died following a farm accident in Co. Wexford, when the quad he was driving overturned.
It is believed the man was on his father’s farm when the accident occurred.
Meanwhile, a second fatality has been confirmed by the HSA as a result of a farm accident in Birr, Co. Offaly.
A farmer in his 70s was killed when he was struck by a tractor on his farm this morning, March 15, according to the HSA.
These two farm accidents follow on from the news that a farmer in his 50s died over the weekend as a result of a farm accident involving livestock.
It is believed the farmer suffered serious head injuries while working with cattle on his farm near Arigna on Friday, March 10.
It is understood that the farmer was working alone at the time of the accident.
An air ambulance was called to the scene and reportedly landed at the nearby Arigna Mining Experience Centre, after which the man was brought to Galway University College Hospital.
The man was later transferred to Beaumont Hospital, according to Gardai. It is believed the man passed away on Sunday, March 12.
The Health and Safety Authority has launched an investigation into the man’s death.
This brings to four the total number of fatalities to occur as a result of accidents on Irish farms in 2017, with three occurring in the last week alone.
In the first week of January, a man in his 80s died on a farm in Co. Wexford.
In January, there was also one construction-related death that occurred on a farm. A man in his 30s died following a fall from a wall on a farm in Co.Kerry.
The news of the latest farming fatalities comes as the HSA is inspecting almost 500 farms this month.
The HSA is placing a particular focus on the safe handling of livestock during the intensive farm inspection campaign.