‘Farm Safety Live’ will be taking place at this year’s Tullamore Show on Sunday, August 13.
The demonstration – which will be showcased by FRS Training, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and FBD – aims to inform farming families how simply safety precautions can be applied, when properly shown how.
Farm Safety Live aims to engage with the audience and “bring to life” three key farm hazard areas. The event will also provide practical, on-the-ground info and know-how that can be brought back and applied on the farm.
With 14 fatalities this year alone and non-fatal accidents at approximately 2,000 per year on average, farming remains the most dangerous occupation in Ireland.
A farm accident can seriously affect both the person involved and their family, according to a Senior Inspector with the HSA and a member of the Farm Safety Partnership, Pat Griffin.
He said: “The horrific consequences of a farm accident – whether fatal or causing serious injury – has a huge impact not only on the farmer, but also on the farm family, community and business.
“We are working continuously with all in the farming community to raise awareness of the risks and to advise all of best practices in farm safety.
I believe that the live demonstrations on practical safety at our shared stand at the Tullamore Show will help protect lives and prevent injury.
Meanwhile, FRS Training Manager and member of the Farm Safety Partnership, Jim Dockery, noted: “We are getting out there in front of farmers and their families to show them the safe way of doing everyday tasks on the farm.
Sometimes it is the simplest thing that causes the horrific accidents and we want to put a stop to this and get everyone to farm more safely.
Ciaran Roche, Vice Chairman of the Farm Safety Partnership and Risk Manager of FBD, also spoke on the matter, saying: “A change in culture and behaviour is essential if unsafe ways of working are to be eliminated and a sustained reduction in farm accidents is to be achieved.
“We are aware that this is a slow and difficult process, as it takes significant investment in time and resources to affect real change. It’s time to stop taking risks and prevent any unnecessary heartache.”