THE Health and Safety Authority, with the support of Teagasc, launched Farm Safety Fortnight this week.
The campaign is taking place because of the alarming rise in farm deaths so far in 2014, with seven farm deaths occurring, compared to one for the same period of 2013. Farm deaths comprised 44% of all workplace deaths so far in 2014. Being crushed by a tractor or machine has been the main factor associated with recent farm deaths followed by animal incidents.
John McNamara, Teagasc health and safety officer, has called on farmers to be particularly vigilant when working in close vicinity of tractors, farm vehicles and machines, particularly in, or around farmyards, because being struck, crushed or falling from a vehicle or machine is associated with 72% of all deaths caused by machinery.
Teagasc will be holding a free practical farm event and a seminar at Kildalton College, Piltown, County Kilkenny on Friday afternoon. Demonstrations will take place involving machinery, livestock, buildings and pesticide usage.
At the seminar, Patrick Griffin, senior inspector with the Health and Safety authority, will outline the overall national strategy to improve the record of farm safety.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.