Farming once again accounted for over half of deaths recorded in the Health and Safety Authority’s (HSA’s) recent figures on work-related fatal accidents during 2017.

There was a slight increase in 2017 reports; with 47 fatal accidents recorded last year – compared to 46 in 2016. Of these, 24 were in agriculture – a figure also up from 21 the previous year.

Of 47 fatalities reported, 18 were self-employed, 15 were employees, seven non-workers and seven family workers.

HSA chief executive, Martin O’Halloran, says that a collective effort is required to reduce the high level of farm accidents: “Everyone involved in farming must aim to make whatever changes are necessary, to work practices, to stop these accidents occurring each year.

“That means safety must be paramount when carrying out any work, especially with tractors or farm machinery.”

Elderly farmers were found to be particularly at risk, O’Halloran noted.

“The Health and Safety Authority will continue to do its part through inspection, awareness raising and education but safe farming has to happen every day, not just after an inspection.

“We need to make this a fundamental part of farming culture, until it is we will continue to have devastation and carnage on our farms.”

Many of the serious accidents were vehicle related, the chief executive stressed: “We have over two million people at work and this is a positive development. However, this will lead to increased traffic and movement of vehicles in workplaces creating hazards that must be managed.

“These dangers are greatly reduced when everyone is aware of the hazards and safe systems of work are implemented,” O’Halloran concluded.