Half farm injuries in northwest caused by animals

Farmers in the northwest are more likely to be injured by animals than by tractors or heavy machinery, new research shows.

A survey of 169 farm injuries recorded at the emergency department of Sligo General Hospital over a 12-month period showed that almost 50 per cent were caused by animals.

Surprisingly only a tiny fraction were bulls.

Ballina-based GP Dr Glen Lecky, one of the authors of the survey, said this trend suggested that cattle were more jittery now than in the past, possibly because of a lack of human contact.

"A surprising number of people told us 'the animal just turned on me'," explained Dr Lecky. He said it was obviously no longer safe to assume that one could go into a pen full of animals without being put at risk.

The Sligo experience was contrary to the national trend which shows that 50 per cent of all farm accidents are related to tractors or heavy machinery. Researchers believe this is partly due to the fact that farms are smaller with less powerful machines.

The survey, carried out with Dr Kieran Cunningham, a consultant in A&E in Sligo, found that children - the majority boys - accounted for 15 per cent of injuries. A further 17 per cent were in the over-65 category.

"Over the past two years half of farmyard deaths nationally have been in the over-65 age group," said Dr Lecky. He said that low farm incomes meant many farmers had part-time jobs and young people and elderly parents were often left to take the slack.

Of the 169 farm injuries treated at Sligo hospital, two proved fatal while researchers were aware of two further fatalities in the catchment area not processed at the hospital.

Dr Lecky pointed out that despite the low numbers involved, farming was still the most dangerous occupation in the country, even more dangerous than construction.

While the number of farmers continues to dwindle, the death rate remains as high each year.

The authors of the survey, unveiled last Friday at the annual multidisciplinary research conference in Sligo hospital, said research into non-fatal injuries on farms was vital.

They pointed out that the data available at A&Es around the State could be used to inform future education and preventative programmes.