Farmers Urged to Prioritise Safety in 2016
IRELAND - Irish research organisation Teagasc has warned farmers to to improve safety in the New Year, as the start of January brings increased risk.
5 January 2016
3 minute read
By: Teagasc Health and Safety Officer John McNamara called on farmers to make their own safety, and their families’ safety, top priority in 2016.
His call came in the wake of another year of high farm deaths, when 17 persons died (provisional figure) on Irish Farms. This follows-on from 30 farm deaths in 2014.
The Teagasc Health and Safety Officer called for particular vigilance in January as farm work increases giving rise to increased risk. He stated that January and March have about 9 per cent and 12 per cent respectively, of annual fatal farm accidents, which is associated with high levels of work activity.
Dr McNamara said that while each accident has individual factors, contact with machinery and equipment (41 per cent), livestock incidents (24 per cent) and falls from heights (18 per cent) were the predominant associated causes in 2015.
The Teagasc Health and Safety Officer pointed out that up to €395 million is available in Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 2) funding up to the end of 2019.
A considerable number of measures are included which support making farms safer and more efficient workplaces. These include slurry aeration and slat replacement, modernising electrical installations and lighting, installation of fixed and mobile livestock handling facilities and safety specific items such as guard rails and sliding doors. It is of the utmost importance that farmers examine ways to utilise the funding available in the context of their own farms.
Dr McNamara said that farm safety Risk Assessment documents should be reviewed by farmers early in 2016. Identifying hazards and taking remedial action, combined with adopting safe behaviour, are the proven ways of cutting farm accident risk.
The Teagasc Safety Officer pointed out that cow attacks around calving time have increased in recent years and this accident cause has now surpassed bull attacks as the number one cause of livestock related deaths. He advised farmers to be extra vigilant when calving cows and consider pen designs which afford protection when dealing with cows at calving.
