Elderly farmers aged over 65 accounted for the majority of farm deaths recorded in 2017.

Twenty-four people were tragically killed in farm accidents this year, with 14 of those aged older than 65.

Pat Griffin, senior inspector with the HSA, described 2017 as “another horrific year for fatal accidents on Irish farms”.

“What is particularly tragic is that 14 of these farmers were over 65 years of age, with many in their 70s and 80s,” said Griffin. “This is something that needs to be tackled immediately to prevent such deaths occurring in 2018.”

“Farmers, in their later and more vulnerable years, must consider the particular risks associated with their advanced age, particularly their speed of movement and ability to move out of the way of tractors, machinery and livestock,” he added.

Tractors and farm vehicles such as quads were involved in the deaths of 14 people, or almost 60% of the accidents, according to the HSA.

Many of those accidents happen when the farmer is working alone.

Griffin said that farmers and all stakeholders in the agricultural sector must consider what actions and supports can be put in place to prevent death and injury on the farm.

“I think this is something worth exploring further, by everyone in the farming community, to prevent elderly farmer deaths,” he said.

Griffin said that the HSA’s approach will continue to be to collaborate with the sector to improve safety standards and practice on farms.

“However, we need to see changes in work practice in a number of areas, particularly around tractors, quads and livestock, to reverse the consistently high levels of fatal accidents experienced over the last few years,” he insisted.

Three of the fatalities involved livestock, three more were related to falls from heights, while two people were killed in drowning or gas-related accidents.

Machinery and falling objects claimed two more lives this year.

While the fatal accidents were widespread across the country, Wexford recorded more farm deaths than any other county in 2017, with four fatalities.

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