Visitors to the Health and Safety Authority’s (HSA) stand at the National Ploughing Championships will be able to take part in a virtual reality (VR) experience to help recognise the risks from farm machinery.

The VR simulator will allow visitors to experience operating agricultural machinery in a controlled environment.

The interactive experience will demonstrate how visibility, speed, terrain and the presence of people nearby can affect safe operation and decision-making.

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The HSA will also feature a live dramatisation showing how falling or unstable bales can cause serious injury or death.

The demonstration will highlight the precautions needed when stacking, storing and working near bales, including the importance of stable stacks, safe handling methods and keeping people clear of danger areas.

While the reduction in farm fatalities recorded so far this year is welcome, there is still much work to be done and everyone working in agriculture must remain vigilant and on guard against complacency, according to the HSA.

Over the last 10 years from 2016 to 2025, farm vehicles and machinery accounted for almost half (46%) of farm deaths and will be a key focus for the authority this week.

Serious risks

“Farming is vital to communities across Ireland, but it remains a demanding occupation with very serious risks. At the time of last year’s National Ploughing Championships, 16 people had lost their lives on farms, compared with five deaths so far this year,” chief executive officer at the HSA Mark Cullen commented.

“That reduction is welcome, but each one of those deaths is a tragedy. Every farmer must make it their personal mission to return home safely to their family at the end of the day and prevent another unnecessary loss of life.

“There can be no room for complacency. Safety must be at the heart of every task carried out on a farm.”

The HSA will follow its ploughing safety message with a month-long inspection campaign during October focusing on working at height on farms.

Inspectors will engage with farmers on the need to plan work at height, assess the risks and use suitable equipment, particularly where work involves ladders, roofs, fragile materials, silos or elevated work areas.

HSA inspectors and safety specialists will be available at the farm safety exhibit throughout the Ploughing and the HSA stand is located at block 3, row 8, stand 148.