Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, and Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, Niall Collins, have urged farmers to get involved in Farm Safety Week by reviewing safety hazards on their farms.

This year, the focus of Farm Safety Week is people, because every incident changes a life.

Speaking in support of Farm Safety Week, Minister Heydon said that farming accounts for almost 40% of all workplace fatalities over the past decade, which emphasies the importance of farm safety.

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“I am urging farmers to take the time to review their Farm Safety Code of Practice and carry out any necessary maintenance and repairs without delay,” he said.

Minister Collins said incidents involving farm vehicles and machinery, livestock and falls from height account for the most accidents on Irish farms.

“Every farmer must get into the practice of doing a walkaround check every morning before using farm vehicles and machinery. Sometimes simple actions like cleaning windows and adjusting mirrors to improve visibility may be all that is needed to ensure that farm vehicles are ready for the day’s work ahead,” he said.

Minister Collins also highlighted the risks associated with livestock and urged farm families to be vigilant as even “quiet” animals can be unpredictable.

“I urge parents to keep children away from work areas and to be safety conscious over the summer.”

Supports

Minister Collins also highlighted the Government’s commitment to supporting farmers to invest in farm safety, drawing attention to supports such as the TAMS3 Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme, the National Farm Safety Measure and the Acceleration of Wear and Tear Allowances for Farm Safety Equipment Scheme.