A man in his 70s has died following a workplace incident in a yard in the Inniskeen area of Dundalk, County Louth, according to gardaí.
The incident happened yesterday evening (Thursday, February 29) at approximately 5:45p.m and it is understood that a tractor was involved.
An Garda Síochána and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) were notified and attended the scene of the accident. The man was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The HSA has confirmed that it launched an investigation.
Farm safety
Separately, the minister of state with responsibility for farm safety, Martin Heydon confirmed that his department has set up a dedicated fund of €2.5 million to support initiatives to promote farm safety practices.
It centres around risk awareness and behavioural change around farm safety from a young age.
The On Feirm Ground initiative also works in collaboration with the HSE and the Department of Health to co-fund a farmers’ physical and mental health awareness programme.
This includes trained agricultural advisers and has now expanded to bring in private veterinary practitioners, departmental staff and other professionals who are in regular contact with farmers and are ideally situated to signpost farmers to relevant health services.
It has incorporated training through the suckler carbon efficiency programme to 15,000 farmers.
Minister Heydon said that farming is the “most dangerous” profession.
“A farmer is seven times more likely to lose their life in a workplace incident than any other one of the more than 2.5 million workers in this country who is in a different profession,” he said.
The minister shared his condolences to the families of those affected by on farm tragedies.