DEAR SIR: It is terrifying to think that a greater percentage of accidents and deaths occur on Irish farms than that of any other industry, even though there is a far lower percentage of people working in that workplace than that of any other workplace.

The fact that farms have become more and more solo operations does not help the situation as it places more pressure on an individual to get the work done, which means more shortcuts, with fewer precautions being taken.

As farming is such an important industry to Ireland, it is an industry that not enough accident awareness and safety training is put into in proportion to its size, and until that is done the accident statistics will not improve.

As a person who works in a chemical setting requiring high safety standards, awareness and compliance, I have personally seen situations on farms where ambivalence and complacency regarding safe work practices on the part of some individuals appears to be almost the norm, and it is rather spine-chilling to watch.

Hazards

Farm safety and accident prevention is dependent on being constantly aware and reminded of the many dangers and hazards involved on the farm, no matter how trivial they may seem.

From observation, the present farm safety signage appears to be more of a warning at property entrances for farm visitors rather than for the benefit of farmers themselves. Adequate and relevant safety signage should be strategically placed at entrances to all sheds and areas of different activity around the farmyard as a constant reminder of possible dangers, not just at entrances.

There are many stakeholders, especially farming organisations, co-ops and farm suppliers, who should get on board and be proactive in safety campaigns and safety awareness training to address the situation.

As signage is not cheap, these stakeholders should come together and subsidise standardised signage.

Action needs to be urgently taken to address farm accidents, otherwise accident statistics will not improve. Farm safety appears to only become an issue whenever a farm death occurs and then it is forgotten. It should be an on-going process.