Strategic Alliances

The current sector strategic alliance in the form of the Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee has a representative membership drawn from the sector.

The work of the partnership is set out in the Farm Safety Action plan 2009-2012 and has within its terms of reference:

"to identify and prioritise the key issues related to improving safety on farms"

"to develop a national action programme, coordinating the actions of the representative organisations and assigning tasks"

Target areas

The targets in the plan covered six broad areas:

• Reducing farm accidents and fatalities
• Provision of training
• More farm inspections
• Developing databases on accidents
• Researching health and safety concerns
• Promoting a greater awareness of health and safety among farmers

This advisory committee to the Health and Safety Authority meets at least four times a year and supports and coordinates the majority of research and promotional activities in relation to farm safety.

Subcommittees are formed to undertake critical research projects or manage major events.
A joint initiative has been established between the HSA and Teagasc for the period 2005-08 with the development, implementation and evaluation of the Farm Safety Code of Practice at its core.This joint initiative was extended in 2009 for a period of another 3 years.