Agriculture has been identified as one of three priority sectors for the HSA’s inspection programme for 2019, along with construction and healthcare.

Both agriculture and construction have been to the forefront of the HSA's work over the last number of years due to the high number of workplace accidents.

Evaluation

There will be an evaluation of the Farm Safety Partnership three-year plan before the HSA and stakeholder bodies identify future targets and actions to commit to.

The HSA aims to have a three-year plan for each of the priority sectors in place in a bid to increase the focus on health and safety in the workplace.

Falls from height

Under the programme of work 2019, the HSA will target activities on falls from height, slips, trips and falls, vehicles and machinery.

It intends to increase and broaden its inspection programme, with a focus on higher-risk and less-compliant companies.

A proportion of overall HSA inspections will involve re-visiting and inspecting companies which received enforcement notices between 2016 and 2018.

Strategy

The publishing of the programme of work for 2019 coincided with the launch of the HSA’s new strategy for 2019 to 2021.

Speaking about the new strategy, Minister for State Pat Breen said the authority would “continue to target high-risk sectors such as farming and construction to ensure that the tragedy of workplace deaths becomes a thing of the past”.

Priorities for the next three years include increased focus on compliance through risk-based enforcement and inspection and greater awareness to prevent work-related accidents.