Minister Calleary launches new farm safety guidelines
Wednesday 22nd September
The Minister for Labour Affairs and Public Service Transformation, Dara Calleary TD, today (Wednesday 22nd September) launched a series of new farm safety guidelines at the National Ploughing Championships in Athy, Co Kildare. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) developed the guidelines with the support of the major farming groups.
Speaking in the Farm Safety Village, Minister Calleary said that the year's statistics so far are a 'sharp reminder that the farming community must make safety the top priority'. Twenty people have died so far this year on Irish farms making them the most dangerous workplaces in terms of fatalities. 'I was so concerned about the situation that, together with Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith, I met the key farming interests and the HSA last March to see how we could pool our skills and resources to tackle farm safety,' said Minister Calleary.
He said we cannot solve the problem without a change in culture. 'In my view, one of the keys to getting that change in culture is the engagement of the farming organisations who have a presence in virtually every parish in the country. I am delighted that key figures in the farming community have responded to that call and they are showing the leadership required for long-lasting change,' said Minister Calleary.
Minister Calleary welcomed the new guidance material and called on farmers to make safety their first priority. 'I recognise the culture change will not happen overnight and we will have to keep delivering the message and providing simple practical support and guidance to help people farm more safely,' said Minister Calleary.
The chief executive of the HSA, Martin O'Halloran, said his organisation's focus is on helping farmers to understand and address the key risks and hazards. 'So far this year, roughly half of all farm deaths have involved tractors or machinery and the next most hazardous activity generally tends to be livestock handling,' he said.
The new guidance material, which has been produced as part of this farm safety initiative, includes a revised code of practice for child safety on farms, a leaflet on the safe use of tractors called 'Tractor Safety and You', guidance on safety around overhead power lines, and guidance on livestock safety at marts and lairages.
'This new guidance material, which provides practical and easy-to-apply tips on farm safety, will help farmers be more aware of these and other risks and will help them protect themselves, their families and any visitors to the farm,' said Mr O'Halloran.
The publications can be downloaded on www.hsa.ie
