The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
THE Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has joined forces with Young Social Innovators (YSI) to recognise innovative transition year students on getting the farm safety message to communities around the country. At the Annual YSI Showcase in Dublin, St Joseph’s Secondary School, Tulla received special certificates of recognition from the authority.
The award was given on the basis of how the Tulla students spoke about their projects to raise awareness of farm safety issues. Panel members from the Farm Safety Partnership organisations including: HSA, IFA, Teagasc, Farm Relief Services and the Professional Agricultural Contractors of Ireland, listened to the presentations from the students and engaged in a question and answer session with them.
HSA chief executive, Martin O’Halloran said, “It’s incredible to see the passion and energy coming from the St. Joseph’s students in getting the farm safety message out there. We came here today to see young people energised about seeking to change something tragic at the heart of farming life in Ireland. Sixteen people died in Ireland in work-related accidents on farms last year and 10 have died this year so far, including a number of tragedies in the past week.”
Mr O’Halloran added, “Young people can and must influence their parents, grandparents and friends on farms. They can keep themselves safe and send a strong message home about the kinds of changes in behaviour we have to see, to bring down the death toll in this sector.”
