A standalone safety body is needed for the agricultural sector, according to Fianna Fáil Seanad spokesperson on agriculture Paul Daly.

“At the moment, various bodies share responsibility for farm safety issues, yet there has been little or no improvement in the area,” he said.

“Without real accountability, it seems that the issue slips between the cracks.”

More than half of all workplace fatalities in Ireland last year occurred in the farming sector.

Average farm

“The average farm is very different to other workplaces in that in very many cases they are also homes where children, working adults and the elderly all live together. Furthermore, there are a huge number of risks present on farms that can cause significant damage. They include, for instance, operating heavy machinery and vehicles, exposure to dangerous chemicals and gases and handling unpredictable livestock.”

The HSA is holding a national health and safety conference in the Dolmen Hotel in Carlow on 26 October.

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