A farm death has occurred when a man in his 60s died in a farming accident just outside Kilkenny today (Tuesday).
The man was fatally injured and he was removed to St Luke’s Hospital, a Garda spokesperson said.
The man’s son was also injured in the accident and has suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to a the spokesperson. He was taken to Waterford University Hospital.
The accident happened around 6pm in Clonard, Ballycallan, Co. Kilkenny, the Gardai confirmed.
It is believed that the farmer and his son were using a loader and a basket when the accident occurred.
Gardai in Kilkenny are investigating and Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is also investigating the farm death.
It is the first farming fatality of 2016 and comes after 17 people died in farming accidents in 2015.
Teagasc Health and Safety Officer John McNamara has called on farmers to make farm safety – their own and their families’ safety, a top priority in 2016.
His call came in the wake of another year of high farm deaths, when 17 people died on Irish farms. This follows on from 30 farm deaths in 2014.
The Teagasc Health and Safety Officer called for particular farm safety vigilance in January as farm work increases giving rise to increased risk.
He stated that January and March have about 9% and 12% respectively, of annual fatal farm accidents, which is associated with high levels of work activity.