A farm safety awareness campaign, supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) was launched today (Tuesday, April 2).
The aim of the campaign is to promote farm safety practices and behavioural change when operating farm vehicles and machinery.
It includes installments on safety around cows at calving, farm machinery, working at heights and farmer health and wellbeing.
Over the last ten years there have been 191 farm fatalities of which over half, or 96 people, lost their lives in incidents involving farm vehicles and machinery, according to DAFM.
The figures show 16 of the 17 child fatalities in the same period involved farm vehicles and machinery.
According to the Teagasc National Farm Survey in 2020, approximately 11% of the 4,500 non-fatal incidents on Irish farms each year involve farm vehicles and machinery, with some resulting in life-changing injuries.
Campaign launch
Chief executive officer (CEO) of the HSA, Conor O’Brien said: “Many of these incidents are caused by poor maintenance and upkeep so make sure your machinery is in good working order, particularly brakes and mirrors.
“Only competent users with proper training should operate farm machinery, and please keep family members and visitors well away.”
O’Brien said that the HSA will be undertaking a nationwide farm inspection blitz over the coming weeks to support the campaign.
The campaign was launched by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon and Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Neale Richmond.
Launching the joint media campaign Minister Heydon said: “In the weeks ahead tractor activity will increase and we need to drive down the unacceptably high number of fatalities involving farm vehicles and machinery.
“It is incumbent on everyone involved in farming to act now by taking the practical steps necessary to prevent any loss of life or injury when using farm machinery.”