The CEO of the Health and Safety Authority has called on farmers to challenge other farmers on potential safety hazards on their farms.

"It’s no good consoling them after the accident has happened," Dr Sharon McGuinness told the Safeguarding the Future of Farming conference hosted by FBD and the HSA on Wednesday.

The conference took place in Moorepark and aimed to provide practical solutions to combat farm fatalities and injuries.

Dr McGuinness told the conference “all farm accidents are preventable, and these incidents don’t just happen”.

While farm safety awareness has increased in recent years, she said: “We still see unguarded PTO shafts during our farm inspections.”

All farm accidents are preventable, and these incidents don’t just happen

She emphasised that “a healthy farmer is a safer farmer”. With better planning, maintenance and development of the necessary systems she believes “farmers will develop better habits and avoid taking any unnecessary risks”.

The HSA CEO believes if safety is to improve on Irish farms “willingness needs to be in the farmers themselves.”

Andrew Doyle, Minister for Food, Forestry and Horticulture

Also speaking at the conference was the Minister for Food, Forestry and Horticulture Andrew Doyle who highlighted the isolating nature farm life can present. He believes “physical and mental health are equally important”.

In relation to farm accidents, Minister Doyle feels “fatalities are only the tip of the iceberg. Unreported accidents and near misses are going unaccounted for”.

Fiona Muldoon, CEO, FBD Insurance:

“We have many reasons to be proud of our agricultural produce but unfortunately it’s much harder to be proud of our safety record on Irish farms," FBD CEO Fiona Muldoon said.

“Agriculture has an appalling record for workplace accidents with records showing a 31% increase in incidents in the last 10 years," she said.

Some 2,800 accidents happen on Irish farms every year with 17 of these being fatal in 2018. Twelve per cent of all fatalities on farms are children.

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