My uncle was killed in a workplace accident at a local factory when I was a baby. Growing up, all I ever heard about it was he was pinned between a wall and a forklift. As a young child I had a distrust of forklifts and always stood clear when one was working nearby. I saw the effects it had on the family, my grandmother in particular. She went from a woman involved in a few organisations to keeping to herself. Tragedy is difficult on those left behind.

On 21 July this year we had national farm safety awareness day. The following six weeks saw plenty of videos posted on Facebook of people doing the Irish Motor Neurone Syndrome ice bucket challenge. A worthy cause and a unique fundraiser. All talk of farm safety was swiftly forgotten, judging by the amount of videos of people on farms standing under loader buckets and even behind slurry tanks. It was irresponsible and reckless.

Would the same practice be allowed on a building site using the same equipment? I don't think so and if it did it could end up in prosecutions.The "it will never happen me" attitude is the biggest stumbling block we face in changing the safety culture on Irish farms.

Animal behaviour education

The HSA has stated it's noting an increase in more aggressive and unpredictable animals. As I regularly hear on my travels, "the animal is never wrong". There is scope for increased animal behaviour education. Yard design with safety and animal flow could go a long way to help.

We recycled a few gates and old cubicles a few years ago to make cattle handling easier in an old yard. It's reduced risks and made it safer. There is a lot of positive work being done by all stakeholders to improve workplace safety, translating that into practice at farm level is the challenge.

I might sound pedantic but including a weighing scales in farm safety grants makes a bit of a mockery of the scheme. An essential piece of equipment on a livestock farm, yes. But to improve farm safety? Are those who put the scheme together really taking safety serious?

The Irish farm structure provides an almost unique work environment and an age demographic different to other industries.

Perhaps it's time for some positive cooperation with the HSA to help reduce the fatalities on our farms.

Let's hope for a safer 2015 on farms.

Deadline for Farm Safety Scheme applications Friday 9 January