FARM DEATHS soared last year from a low of 11 in 2007 to 20 this year and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is hoping the farm safety action plan will reverse this trend. The rise in fatalities was described as "very worrying" by Billy Kelleher, Minister of State for Labour Affairs, when he announced details of the four-year scheme earlier in December.
"Safe farming is about protecting life and limb. I would appeal to all farmers not to take chances when it comes to the safety, health and well-being of themselves and their families," he said.
Martin O'Halloran, chief executive of the safety authority, indicated his concern at the low levels of compliance in the farming sector.
Mr O'Halloran said that the authority would continue to work with Teagasc and other key farming organisations to promote the authority's farm-safety code of practice.
The new farm safety action plan sets out a four-year strategy to reduce the level of injury and occupational ill-health among farmers.
The plan outlines specific goals and actions to achieve these reductions and a range of farm organisations and State bodies with a role in farm-injury and ill-health prevention have given their full commitment to achieving the goals set.
Tom Collins, director of operations with Teagasc, announced that Teagasc and the HSA had agreed to jointly fund a Walsh Fellowship to study approaches to improving the occupational health profile of farmers with particular reference to reducing the high level of spinal injuries among farmers.
A seminar held in conjunction with the launch heard from Teagasc researcher David Meredith that a study of fatal farm injuries over the last 15 years revealed the months of January and March were particularly high-risk months accounting for 20 per cent of all fatalities.
He identified the high workloads during these months as a contributory factor to high accident levels.
In January 62 per cent of farm deaths were due to tractor and machinery operation mainly in the farmyard with slurry drowning, falls from roofs and animal attacks each accounting for 13 per cent of fatalities.
Mr Meredith stated that safety of older farmers merited particular attention in January as 62 per cent of accident victims were over 65 years of age.
John McNamara, Teagasc health and safety officer, said that just 5 per cent of farmers sought health and safety advice and this is a major factor limiting progress with implementation of on-farm controls.
Psychologist Patricia Murray of the Health and Safety Authority told the seminar of the pressures that are faced by farmers on a daily basis.
She outlined how best to provide them with the tools to handle the many difficulties faced including physical, social and emotional demands along with isolation and lack of control.
Ms Murray stressed we have to stop trying to "teach" them and start helping them through active and inclusive programmes.