The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) carried out 46 investigations on farms last year.

A breakdown shows that 30 investigations were in relation to incidents or dangerous occurrences on farms, a HSA spokesperson told the Irish Farmers Journal.

Fifteen of the investigations were in relation to complaints on farms.

Across all sectors last year, the HSA carried out 1,160 inspections and investigations, 61 of which related to agriculture, forestry and fishing.

Inspections

The HSA annual report shows that over 446 farmers, foresters and fishers received written advice from the HSA in 2020 on the back of inspections it carries out on farms.

It completed 897 inspections, which are different to investigations, last year. A total of 32 improvement notices and 35 prohibition notices were issued.

No fines were issued to anyone in the sector.

It completed 499 animal handling inspections, 390 tractor and farm machinery inspections and 138 working at a height inspections.

Blitz

From Monday 15 November, the authority will begin a two-week farm inspection campaign, which will focus on helping farmers to work safely at heights.

Over the last 10 years, 11 fatalities have occurred on farms as a result of working at a height, it said.

The main risks when working at a height are falls, either from ladders, through fragile roofs or unprotected edges of roofs.