All-Island Safety Conference hears calls for action from Farmers

The Health and Safety Authority and Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland came together today (Wednesday 18^th June), to co-host the first All-Island conference on farm safety in Co. Monaghan. Delegates from farming bodies from both sides of the border heard the Minister for Labour Affairs Billy Kelleher TD express his hopes that through sharing ideas and common goals a reduction in serious and fatal accidents can be achieved.

“I am delighted to meet colleagues from Northern Ireland at this important conference. It is clear from looking at the types of accidents that occur on farms both North and South, that farm safety presents challenges common to the whole island. Occupational safety is a natural field for pragmatic co-operation and we should share our experiences and promote best practice to reduce accidents on farms throughout Ireland,” he said.

Speaking about farm safety from a Northern perspective Tom Elliot MLA, Vice Chairman of the NI Agriculture Committee said,

“My own constituency has seen the unfortunate deaths of a number of farmers lately and our sympathies go out to their families. Farmers need and deserve our support and assistance to make their farms safe places to work and live.”

So far this year there have been 10 fatal accidents on farms in the Republic of Ireland and 6 on farms in Northern Ireland. The Health and Safety Authority and the Health and Safety Executive of Northern Ireland have identified significant similarities in the kind of farming accidents and fatalities they investigate according to Bryan Monson Deputy Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Executive in Northern Ireland,

“Both myself and my colleagues in the south are not surprised that we see such similarities in the kinds of accidents occurring on farms. The type of accident and the victims tend be involve the same horrific and heartbreaking stories both north and south, with elderly farmers working with livestock and machinery particularly at risk,” he said.

The Health and Safety Authority Chief Executive Martin O’Halloran stated that more can be done to influence farmers and their work practices,

“There are what we call ‘key influencers’ in the agriculture sector, farming organisations and associations who have regular contact with farmers. I call on these key influencers today to have a greater influence on farmers regard for their own and their families’ safety and health. I would remind all farmers that completion of the Farm Safety Code of Practice is a legal requirement and safety should become a key part of every job on the farm”.

“Teagasc who we have a joint initiative with continue to carry out very important research and have identified a number of geographical black spot and at risk age brackets for farm fatalities. This I hope will not only provide a focus for action by the Authority but also hopefully from the farming organisations”.

At the seminar experts from Ireland and from Sweden will present findings from recent studies on strategies to improve the safety and health record of the farming sector.

ENDS/LA284