Economic conditions and age demographics of farmers has a major bearing on farm fatalities, according to Pat Griffin of the Health and Safety Authority’s (HSA).

Griffin told the Irish Farmers Journal that as the economy recovers, we are more likely to see a rise in farm deaths.

“As the economy recovers, we are seeing an increase in farm deaths. This is because you are seeing more and more young people getting off farm employment which is leading to older farmers doing more,” he said.

Evidence for this assumption is hard fought as 2009 saw 11 farm deaths and 2014 saw 30. How high farm safety is on people’s agenda is also a major contributor to the numbers.

“Typically, the year after a year where fatalities are high, we see a reduction because people’s awareness is heightened,” he said.

An example of this was 2014 when 30 people lost their lives. The year after, 19 people died.

However, as Griffin said himself, the “cycle of death” soon shoots upwards again as the effect of the year before becomes less topical as time moves on.

“We cannot let this spike in fatalities be the only reason we focus on farm safety. We have to find a sustainable system to counteract this. At the moment, it goes in cycles. We have to find a key to stop this cycle of death,” Griffin said.

Older farmers

The high numbers of deaths in older people is concerning Grffin. Of the 14 deaths so far this year, 11 were aged 60 or older. “The number of older farmers who have lost their lives this year is shocking. These are people who give their lives to farming and their life shouldn’t be ended in this way,” he said.