When it comes to farm safety, there is no shortage of expertise across the country. 
This has led to a number of innovative technologies being developed to make the farm a safer place for all. Here we profile some of the latest technologies available.
Slurry gas detectors
Slurry presents two health and safety threats – drowning and gas poisoning. Drowning is by far the most common cause of death involving slurry.
In the period from 2000 to 2010, 8% of deaths to elderly farmers were caused by drowning.
Hydrogen sulphide has a rotten egg smell at low levels, but cannot be smelled at higher levels. High levels can be released when slurry is agitated. One breath or lung-full at this level causes instant death.
The BW Clip H2S gas detector alerts you to the presence of hydrogen sulphide. It lasts for a period of two years from the point it is turned on, with a countdown clock showing the life remaining.
The danger with depending on detectors is that it can be too late when you are alerted.
BeSMART.ie
BeSMART.ie is a free online safety tool that allows small businesses to carry out risk assessments and create their own safety statements.
It was developed by the Health and Safety Authority to help small businesses develop their own safety statement and to contribute to a culture of health and safety in their workplaces.
The website is easily navigated, and the farmer can update the details anytime.
Farmers can register and create a personalised farm risk assessment account. The idea of making a farm risk assessment is to reduce the chances of an accident occurring.
Moocall
Moocall is a tail-mounted non-invasive sensor that monitors contractions in cows and heifers and alerts you approximately one hour before active calving. It sends an SMS alert to up to two phones to ensure that you can be present when calving occurs.
Moocall offers a secondary safety aspect. What this means is that if the farmer is able to get a good night’s sleep, reassured by the fact that they will be alerted when the cow starts to calve, then they will be less likely to make a mistake the following day.
Red Panic Button
Red Panic Button is a specialised app with user-centred early warning and vulnerability alert system. By pushing the red panic button, the app will send your GPS co-ordinates to a previously specified contact list.
This app utilises all communication streams available to communicate with as many emergency contacts as possible.
Facebook safety check
Facebook has made a permanent page for safety check (see main picture), its feature for letting others know that you’re safe during an emergency.
Crisis response is a place on Facebook where you can find information about recent crises. It also allows you to donate to fundraisers to support recovery efforts.
However, there are a number of stumbling blocks. Despite all the talk of safety and the risk on farms, there are few products that are commercially available at a price that farmers will consider buying them. The challenge is the large cost of developing products and the business model of bringing them to market.
The key thing to remember is that you cannot put a price on a death or a lost limb. Education of farmers is seen as a key area and cannot be focused on often enough.
For more visit on the ESB Safe Family Farm initiative, visit here.
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