Minister of State Martin Heydon has called on the farming community to “call out unsafe farm practices”.
Minister Heydon, who has responsibility for farm safety among his ministerial duties, wants to see “real behavioural change” from farmers.
“The death rate on our farms is unacceptably high, one death is one too many, but 14 is completely unacceptable,”he told the Irish Farmers Journal.
He is calling for a cultural change where “all of us call out unsafe farm practices when we see them, and where every farmer takes the time to identify the hazards in the tasks they are about to undertake”.
I see firsthand, the lure of machinery and animals for children
Pressure
“As a farmer myself I recognise the pressure that farmers are under all the time, from an income perspective, and from working against the elements. In addition, a shortage of farm labour often sees farmers take on a two-person job on their own.
“Farms are also the only significant workplace with the house in the middle of them. I have three little boys myself, and I see firsthand, the lure of machinery and animals for children. It’s a constant battle.
“We have to also be mindful of the older generation, more than half of farm deaths are people over 65. We must have safety as the first thought every day and before every task.”
Positive steps
Minister Heydon says there are positive steps. “The Farm Safety TAMS measures have been successful. The BESAFE research project (a project on behaviours for safer farming) is ongoing and will be valuable. I believe there is a lot we can do in the area of peer-to peer support, where neighbours help each other to identify the hazards on each other’s farms in a constructive way.
“We plan to roll out this approach, it’s one I’m very keen to see developed. It often takes a fresh pair of eyes to see the issues on your own farm that familiarity can blind us to.”
Farm Safety Week 2020 runs from 20-24 July
Read more
Watch: farm accidents have ‘catastrophic effects on people’s lives’
Agri Aware campaign to raise awareness of farm hazards
Farm Safety Week: 18% of farm accidents result in admission to intensive care
Minister of State Martin Heydon has called on the farming community to “call out unsafe farm practices”.
Minister Heydon, who has responsibility for farm safety among his ministerial duties, wants to see “real behavioural change” from farmers.
“The death rate on our farms is unacceptably high, one death is one too many, but 14 is completely unacceptable,”he told the Irish Farmers Journal.
He is calling for a cultural change where “all of us call out unsafe farm practices when we see them, and where every farmer takes the time to identify the hazards in the tasks they are about to undertake”.
I see firsthand, the lure of machinery and animals for children
Pressure
“As a farmer myself I recognise the pressure that farmers are under all the time, from an income perspective, and from working against the elements. In addition, a shortage of farm labour often sees farmers take on a two-person job on their own.
“Farms are also the only significant workplace with the house in the middle of them. I have three little boys myself, and I see firsthand, the lure of machinery and animals for children. It’s a constant battle.
“We have to also be mindful of the older generation, more than half of farm deaths are people over 65. We must have safety as the first thought every day and before every task.”
Positive steps
Minister Heydon says there are positive steps. “The Farm Safety TAMS measures have been successful. The BESAFE research project (a project on behaviours for safer farming) is ongoing and will be valuable. I believe there is a lot we can do in the area of peer-to peer support, where neighbours help each other to identify the hazards on each other’s farms in a constructive way.
“We plan to roll out this approach, it’s one I’m very keen to see developed. It often takes a fresh pair of eyes to see the issues on your own farm that familiarity can blind us to.”
Farm Safety Week 2020 runs from 20-24 July
Read more
Watch: farm accidents have ‘catastrophic effects on people’s lives’
Agri Aware campaign to raise awareness of farm hazards
Farm Safety Week: 18% of farm accidents result in admission to intensive care
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