“The farm is a busy place to work and live, we find we are always trying not to rush around too much because when you rush, that’s when accidents can happen. You take your eye off the ball or the job in hand for a second and that second could have a devastating effect on not only you, but your family, business and the animals,” said Derry.

Trips, falls and blows accounted for 42% of injuries to farmers between 2001 and 2011, but there are simple ways to reduce this Derry explains, “I’ve been farming for 30 years and, I’ve been wearing Dunlop® for over 20 of them. They give me the confidence that I don’t have to worry about slipping on the wet parlour floor or yard.”

Pat Griffin, Senior Inspector for agriculture with the Health and Safety Authority, believes that investing in the right footwear is vital, “The number one most important thing is good footwear that is non-slip. It is a great investment to make.”

Injuries that occur so quickly could have massive repercussions according to Derry, “If I am unable to work through an injury caused where an animal stands on my foot, that can cost me a lot more than just a few days off. If I can’t work I could have to pay someone to come in and do the job for me. All because I didn’t take the simple steps required to prevent an injury.”

“70% of the 2,500 farmers who were involved in non-fatal accidents were out of work for over ten days,” according to Pat and in his expert opinion, “Keeping your boots clean and changing them regularly is critical to preventing these injuries.”

With over 89 years expertise and knowledge in developing protective footwear, Dunlop® has produced cutting edge, top of the range protective footwear since 1927. Dunlop® Purofort® is both lightweight and thermally insulated providing flexibility & strength to suit all conditions.

Ensuring comfort as you spend the majority of your day on your feet is vital to Dunlop®’s philosophy with footwear not only designed to offer the wearer maximum safety features such as a protective toe and mid-sole, combined with a slip and oil resistant outsole but a strong durable boot that offers optimum comfort and dryness all day long. Modern technology means that wearing steel toe capped wellingtons and midsoles are no longer a challenge. This style of wellington is now 30% lighter than traditional rubber wellingtons, while also including steel toes caps which help reduce injuries and fatalities that that occur from crushing.

Derry concluded; “Farm yards can be very icy, dangerous and slippery, finding a boot with good grip on it is important so that you won’t slip or fall, because one fall could be fatal. Dunlop® Purofort® are the wellington to wear as far as I’m concerned”. Derry Scannell is a well-known dairy farmer who has increased his farm enterprise over the past 30 years. Derry is a member of the IFA Dairy Committee and involved locally with Drinagh Co-Op.

Key Health and Safety Statistics

Irish farmers accounting for over 25% of fatalities that occurred on farms between 2004 and 2013. With falls and collapses accounting for a further 18% of fatalities, the right footwear can go a long way to keeping you healthy and farming. In the most recent

National Survey of Farm Injuries conducted by Teagasc, trips, falls and blows accounted for 42% of reported farm injuries with over 89% of these injuries causing four or more lost days from work and 41% causing more than 20 days lost, placing considerable financial and mental strains on families.

Pat Griffin, Senior Inspector for agriculture at Health and Safety Authority, has seen first-hand the dangers on farms and has advice for farmers, “Farmers have to try and slow down and take a bit more time with what they are doing, even just five minutes planning in the morning can have a big effect. Farmers now are generally older so they have to take more care but the right footwear is essential.”

90% of farm injuries occur between the farmyard and farm buildings highlighting how imperative it is that you are as protected as possible and this starts with a high quality wellington such as Dunlop Purofort®.