Farm safety for children and elderly people is to be highlighted at the upcoming Sheep2015 event by Teagasc, it says.
The safety exhibits at Teagasc events will include demonstrations related to prevention of all the major causes of farm accidents, it says.
Childhood and elder farmer safety, tractor and machinery safety, falling loads, drowning and slurry gassing are all to be highlighted at the event, Teagasc says.
A range of organisations including the Health and Safety Authority, the Road Safety Authority and ESB Networks will also be exhibiting at these events.
In 2014, 30 people died in farm work related activity, which made-up 54% of all workplace deaths and an estimated 2,500 non-fatal accidents causing serious injury occur on farms annually.
John McNamara, Teagasc Health and Safety Officer, says that one accident is one too many and farm safety should be a priority for every farmer.
“Thousands of farmers will be attending these three open days and there is an opportunity for them to engage with farm safety specialists to reassess the safety precautions on their own farms.
“Farmer behaviour in relation to safety is the crucial determinant of accident occurrence. Maintenance of high safety vigilance particularly during the busy summer months is essential to minimise accident levels,” he says.
The new farm safety training requirements for the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme II (TAMS II), Young Farmers’ Capital Scheme will be highlighted to farmers at these three major open days.
The safety focus at each event will be concentrating on the farm enterprise being covered on the day. At the Sheep2015, suitable facilities to prevent physical injuries when working with sheep will be emphasised, it says.
The events are Sheep2015 at Teagasc Athenry, Co. Galway (Saturday, June 20), Crops and Spraying at Teagasc Oak Park, Carlow (Wednesday, June 24) and Teagasc Moorepark 15, a major event for dairy farmers at Fermoy, Co Cork (Wednesday, July 1).
At the Crops and Spraying event the focus will be on meeting the requirements of pesticide regulations related to the EU Sustainable Use Directive. The Dairying event will highlight safety, and work organisation, related to herd expansion, Teagasc says.