While there are many risks in farming, farming does not have to be a dangerous occupation, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has said ahead of Farm Safety Week 2019.

“Behavioural change is what is required to prevent many accidents. It is a case of being aware of the dangers and taking the time to do what is necessary to minimise the risk.

“There are plenty of ways to reduce the danger, without spending huge money. The first of these is to complete a farm risk assessment,” the Minister said.

Minister Creed said he welcomed that the IFA is leading the fifth annual Farm Safety Week.

“It is important that every organisation involved in agriculture continually raises the need for farmers to farm safely,” he said.

To date this year there has been 12 fatal farm accidents on Irish farms. These 12 fatal farm accidents account for over 40% of all fatal work accidents so far in 2019, while farming accounts for less than 6% of the workforce.

“No individual action or organisation that can solve this difficult problem that impacts so negatively on so many lives each year. We must all work together with the single goal of preventing farm accidents and therefore saving lives and minimising serious injuries”.

A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture said that farmers need to be reminded to think “am I doing enough” to ensure there are no accidents on their own farm.

“It is through farmers taking individual action that the number of farm accidents will be reduced,” the spokesperson said.

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