SIXTEEN PEOPLE have died on farms in Ireland since the start of the year compared with 18 in the whole of 2007, a major cross-Border conference on farm safety heard yesterday.
It was told that there have been 10 fatalities on farms in the Republic so far this year, compared to 11 for all of 2007. There have been six deaths in the North this year, while the 2007 total was seven.
New research presented to the All-Island Farm Safety Conference in Monaghan showed a 110 per cent increase in the average number of fatal accidents between 1993 and 2007 on farms among those over 60 years of age.
David Meredith of Teagasc's Rural Economy Research Centre said that the issue of farm fatalities among the elderly was now a cause for significant concern.
The event, organised by the Health and Safety Authority, the Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland and Teagasc, with the farm organisations, was also told that the Border and midlands regions accounted for a higher proportion of fatal accidents than the west and the south.
Clustering of fatal farm accidents occurred in a number of areas including mid and north Tipperary and southwest Cork. The study revealed that March and July were the months when most fatal accidents occurred.
However, Teagasc said that there were clear indications that the seasonality of accidents was changing, with sharp declines in the number of fatalities during the summer and increases in farm deaths during winter and spring.
The findings of new studies on how animal behaviour relates to human safety was also presented by Dr Bernadette Earley, an animal welfare scientist, of Grange Beef Research Centre, Co Meath.
She carried out the first controlled studies in Ireland on the subject using four tests involving pure-bred and cross-bred cattle against the background of livestock related injuries now being responsible for 65 per cent of all farm injuries.
Dr Earley's studies related to "animal flight", "docility", "fear" and a "crush" test, where animals were restrained in a cattle crush.
The "flight" test indicated that pure-bred animals were far less approachable than cross-breds allowing an approach distance of just half that for cross-breds, before fleeing. The "fear" test indicated that animals were more agitated when isolated from other animals. Cattle were less agitated when in the presence of a stationary person or when concentrate feed was available.
The "crush" test indicated that animals were more agitated in a crush, with 12 per cent being difficult to handle by one person.
She said research at Grange Centre showed the fear response of cattle was affected by genetic and psychological make-up, the way animals were handled and the individual personality of the animal.
The agricultural sector in Ireland continues to have a poor safety and health record.
About a third of workplace deaths take place on farms, while only 6 per cent of the workforce is employed in the sector.