Few of us can hold up our hand as a model for farm safety. Due to the nature of the business, a near miss is something we have all encountered.

However, as an industry we cannot ignore the figures contained in the recent ESRI report showing the rate of farm fatalities to be nearly 10 times the average across all occupations.

There are simply too many families out there without their father, mother, son or daughter.

As an industry we must work to find a response that is inclusive and designed in a way that promotes farmer engagement.

On its own, the stick approach will not deliver the required shift in culture. The ERSI figures are very timely as we head into one of the busiest periods on Irish farms.

Before heading back to the yard – stop and think – what can you do differently to reduce the risk of you becoming the next statistic?

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