The key focus of the campaign which is run by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) will be on identifying crush zones and preventing impact injuries, which usually involve tractors and machinery or being caught by an animal that has suddenly turned aggressive.
Speaking about how many of these accidents occur, Pat Griffin, senior inspector with the HSA, said:
“I believe many of these crush injuries and deaths are actually caused by excessive workload, pressure, stress, improvising and taking short cuts. These factors coupled with fatigue, can be a lethal combination. By managing workload the risks can be reduced.”
Following this he gave people some simple steps that can be considered for managing workload.
Prioritise activities: Make choices about what to do and when to do it. Do the most important jobs first and spread workload out over time.Plan ahead: Allocate enough time for daily activities and plan for busy seasonal periods. Consider getting extra help at very busy periods where fatigue becomes a major factor.Pacing: Organise a routine so on average the same amount of work is done each day. Plan what is going to be done rather than responding to what needs to be done.So far this year three people have lost their lives on Irish farms.
While fatalities in the sector were back last year, agriculture still stands as the most dangerous sector to work in with 18 of the 55 work related deaths in 2015.
For further information on all things Health & Safety around the farm, visit HSA.ie/Agriculture
The key focus of the campaign which is run by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) will be on identifying crush zones and preventing impact injuries, which usually involve tractors and machinery or being caught by an animal that has suddenly turned aggressive.
Speaking about how many of these accidents occur, Pat Griffin, senior inspector with the HSA, said:
“I believe many of these crush injuries and deaths are actually caused by excessive workload, pressure, stress, improvising and taking short cuts. These factors coupled with fatigue, can be a lethal combination. By managing workload the risks can be reduced.”
Following this he gave people some simple steps that can be considered for managing workload.
Prioritise activities: Make choices about what to do and when to do it. Do the most important jobs first and spread workload out over time.Plan ahead: Allocate enough time for daily activities and plan for busy seasonal periods. Consider getting extra help at very busy periods where fatigue becomes a major factor.Pacing: Organise a routine so on average the same amount of work is done each day. Plan what is going to be done rather than responding to what needs to be done.So far this year three people have lost their lives on Irish farms.
While fatalities in the sector were back last year, agriculture still stands as the most dangerous sector to work in with 18 of the 55 work related deaths in 2015.
For further information on all things Health & Safety around the farm, visit HSA.ie/Agriculture
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