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Data from the Teagasc national farm survey (NFS) indicates there are over 200 serious accidents relating to chainsaws and timber work annually.
The latest NFS indicated 7.7% of accidents causing injury related to chainsaws and timber work. This has risen from 2.7% in the previous survey conducted in 2012.
The data also indicated that 20% of chainsaw and timber work accidents occur to people over the age of 70. In age categories up to 50 years of age, chainsaw and timber work accounted for 10% of accidents.
Safety seminar
With the apparent increase in accidents, Teagasc and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) are to host a safety seminar on Thursday 11 October at Teagasc Mellows campus, Athenry, Co Galway.
Titled Felling your trees safely, it is aimed at farmers who fell trees or do chainsaw work.
The seminar will focus on the safe use of chainsaws, harvesting, electricity, forestry contractors and the new Forestry Knowledge Transfer Group Scheme. It will be of particular interest to forest owners, forestry contractors, forestry advisers, forest management consultants, health and safety professionals and students undergoing forestry training.
A series of 10 leaflets on timber felling and chainsaw use adapted for Irish law will also be launched at the event.
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