The latest data from the Health and Safety Authority on farm deaths makes for disappointing reading. With 23 fatalities, the agriculture sector continues to have the highest rate of workplace related deaths in Ireland. The 2025 figure is almost double that of 2024.
This 2025 figure accounts for 40% of all work-related deaths, despite the sector just employing 4% of the workforce. One is one too many, and every death on a family farm represents a lost loved one and a family left devastated.
Young and old are especially at risk. Nobody is saying to keep these people out of farmyards, but enhanced vigilance and care is required when they are around. The total figure for workplace fatalities stood at 58 for 2025, with 19 (33%) of these aged 65 or over.
This trend is concerning in the context of an aging demographic of farmers and the fact that many farmers work well beyond the traditional retirement age.
Most fatalities occur around the use of machinery and falls from working at heights. With this information in mind, extra effort should be made to avoid the risk of injury or death, especially when working at heights.
Proper risk assessment will take time, and in some cases money, where harnesses or nets are required, but all the time and money in the world won’t bring back a family member from a fatal fall.
The latest data from the Health and Safety Authority on farm deaths makes for disappointing reading. With 23 fatalities, the agriculture sector continues to have the highest rate of workplace related deaths in Ireland. The 2025 figure is almost double that of 2024.
This 2025 figure accounts for 40% of all work-related deaths, despite the sector just employing 4% of the workforce. One is one too many, and every death on a family farm represents a lost loved one and a family left devastated.
Young and old are especially at risk. Nobody is saying to keep these people out of farmyards, but enhanced vigilance and care is required when they are around. The total figure for workplace fatalities stood at 58 for 2025, with 19 (33%) of these aged 65 or over.
This trend is concerning in the context of an aging demographic of farmers and the fact that many farmers work well beyond the traditional retirement age.
Most fatalities occur around the use of machinery and falls from working at heights. With this information in mind, extra effort should be made to avoid the risk of injury or death, especially when working at heights.
Proper risk assessment will take time, and in some cases money, where harnesses or nets are required, but all the time and money in the world won’t bring back a family member from a fatal fall.
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