An international conference on farm fatalities and injuries organised by the Health and Safety Authority will be held in Dublin later this month, writes Seán Mac Connell.
The event, which will see EU representatives meet to share knowledge on the issue, will be held against a backdrop of rising levels of fatalities here. Last weekend saw two more deaths on Irish farms, involving a child (4) and a middle-aged farmer, bringing to 16 the number of deaths so far this year.
There are an estimated 450 work-related fatalities on farms across the EU annually and experts will be seeking to have greater European Commission involvement in resolving the problem.