The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has confirmed that it has launched an investigation following the tragic death of a farmer in Co. Cork over the past few days.
It’s understood the farmer, who was in his early 70s, died after being crushed in a incident with a bull in a shed at his farm near Enniskeane, Co. Cork on Friday (April 14) around 4:00p.m.
He was discovered by a vet who arrived at the scene, as he had been called out prior to the incident to attend to the bull.
Gardaí confirmed to Agriland that the local coroner was notified and the man’s body was taken to Cork University Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Funeral for farmer killed by bull
The farmer has been named locally as Joseph Shorten from Castletown-Kenneigh.
He is survived by his wife, Joan, and his siblings, Mary, Ben, and Robert, and extended family.
He will be reposing at O’Mahony’s funeral home, Enniskeane, tomorrow evening (Monday, April 17) from 6:30p.m until 7:30p.m followed by removal to St. Bartholomew’s Church, Kenneigh.
Funeral service will take place on Tuesday (April 18) at 2:00p.m followed by burial after in Killowen Cemetery.
HSA
In other news related to the HSA, it is to begin a two-week national farm inspection campaign tomorrow (Monday, April 17) focussed on the safe use of tractors and quad bikes (ATVs).
The authority said that it remains “concerned” about safety issues around farm vehicles across the country ahead of the busy silage harvesting season getting underway.
From November 2023, it will be a requirement for those using quad bikes for work purposes to complete training and wear personal protective equipment (PPE).
During this campaign, HSA inspectors will offer guidance to farmers to ensure that they will be in compliance ahead of the deadline.