Bigger tractors being used on farms are contributing to a rise in knock-down and crush accidents, Teagasc has warned.

Blind spots associated with large machines are an area of growing concern for Teagasc farm safety expert John McNamara.

While PTO-related accidents on farms have fallen, there are increasing numbers of people being knocked down and crushed by tractors and machinery, he warned.

“PTO shaft accidents are down substantially in the last decade and, while they are still deadly dangerous and should be covered at all times, knock-down and crush type accidents are on the way up,” McNamara told the Irish Farmers Journal.

“There is a visibility issue with bigger tractors in small farmyards – you can’t see people in the blind spots,” he said.

Farm vehicles and machinery account for the highest proportion of farm deaths and accidents.

Thirty people died when they were trapped or crushed by tractors on farms between 2007 and 2016, according to the Health & Safety Authority (HSA). That was more than half of all fatal tractor accidents.

Another seven people were killed when they were struck by a tractor or a farm vehicle.

Children and older people are most vulnerable to this type of accident.

“It’s not the driver that is killed in these tractor accidents, it’s the younger and older people in the yard,” pointed out McNamara.

Sixteen children were tragically killed in farm accidents involving tractors, machinery, trailers and other farm equipment between 2007 and 2016.

Tractors and farm vehicles were involved in the deaths of 22 older people on farms in the same period.

“Studies have shown that farmers perceive farm safety as being about power shafts and entanglement accidents, but knock-down and crush accidents are a bigger problem,” he added. “The message has gotten through about PTOs and now we need to get the message across about blind spots in tractors.”

McNamara advised farmers to slow down when driving in the farmyard, as reduced speed will reduce the risk of accident.

He also urged farmers to know where children are at all times.

“A safe play area is essential, so that children will not be able to just come out the back door of the house and within a minute be at the centre of a working farmyard,” he added.

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