Ministers for agriculture and business north and south of the border have appealed to farmers, and all those involved in agriculture, to play a part in reducing the rate of farm accidents.
Minster for Agriculture Michael Creed, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Edwin Poots, Minister for the Economy Diane Dodds and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys all made the appeal after a spike in farm fatalities.
To date, 16 people have died on farms on the island of Ireland. Of those, 13 were in the Republic and three were in the North. The majority of these accidents have occurred during the COVID-19 restrictions and a high number of children and older people that have died on farms in recent weeks.
Three children and nine people over 65 have died this year. Fourteen have occurred during the COVID-19 restrictions.
Risks
The ministers said a similar effort to that made flattening the coronavirus curve was needed on farm safety, which had to be “built into our DNA”.
Research shows that farmers and contractors are generally aware of the risks, but often don’t adhere to the safety rules or take specific steps to ensure that the work they are engaged in can be done safely.
The ministers have asked that farmers and those working on farms to take time to think about farm safety every morning.
Advice
Before ever job they ask farmers to take a moment to stop and think:
How am I going to do this job safely?Do I have everything I need?Are there other people or hazards (machinery, obstructions, livestock) in the area I’m working in?Additional risks with farmers and contractors busy working with animals, making silage and spreading fertiliser and slurry were also highlighted. Also many farms will have children at home from school so the call was for everyone to be extra vigilant.
Precautions
“Farming is a vital part of the structure and economy across the island. Farmers continue to work hard and long hours on a daily basis to produce essential foodstuffs. While farms are high-risk workplaces, farming does not have to be dangerous,” the ministers said.
“Simple basic precautions can reduce the risks and prevent future accidents. This is particularly important at present during the COVID-19 restrictions as more people are at home and on the farm including young children and older members of families.”
Read more
COVID-19 blamed for drop in farm safety inspections
Farm safety must always be to the fore
Ministers for agriculture and business north and south of the border have appealed to farmers, and all those involved in agriculture, to play a part in reducing the rate of farm accidents.
Minster for Agriculture Michael Creed, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Edwin Poots, Minister for the Economy Diane Dodds and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys all made the appeal after a spike in farm fatalities.
To date, 16 people have died on farms on the island of Ireland. Of those, 13 were in the Republic and three were in the North. The majority of these accidents have occurred during the COVID-19 restrictions and a high number of children and older people that have died on farms in recent weeks.
Three children and nine people over 65 have died this year. Fourteen have occurred during the COVID-19 restrictions.
Risks
The ministers said a similar effort to that made flattening the coronavirus curve was needed on farm safety, which had to be “built into our DNA”.
Research shows that farmers and contractors are generally aware of the risks, but often don’t adhere to the safety rules or take specific steps to ensure that the work they are engaged in can be done safely.
The ministers have asked that farmers and those working on farms to take time to think about farm safety every morning.
Advice
Before ever job they ask farmers to take a moment to stop and think:
How am I going to do this job safely?Do I have everything I need?Are there other people or hazards (machinery, obstructions, livestock) in the area I’m working in?Additional risks with farmers and contractors busy working with animals, making silage and spreading fertiliser and slurry were also highlighted. Also many farms will have children at home from school so the call was for everyone to be extra vigilant.
Precautions
“Farming is a vital part of the structure and economy across the island. Farmers continue to work hard and long hours on a daily basis to produce essential foodstuffs. While farms are high-risk workplaces, farming does not have to be dangerous,” the ministers said.
“Simple basic precautions can reduce the risks and prevent future accidents. This is particularly important at present during the COVID-19 restrictions as more people are at home and on the farm including young children and older members of families.”
Read more
COVID-19 blamed for drop in farm safety inspections
Farm safety must always be to the fore
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