Blind spots and speeding were the focus for Teagasc health and safety specialist Dr John McNamara at the IFA's farm safety event in Mooncoin, Co Kilkenny, on Tuesday.
Most new tractors and machines being built now are a lot larger, can travel faster compared with 15 years ago and are not suited to small farmyards dotted around Ireland.
72% of farm deaths
"Over a 10-year period between 2008 and 2018, vehicle and machinery accidents accounted for 72% of farm deaths which are due to people either being crushed or struck by a machine,” McNamara told the crowd of 200 people at the farm safety event.
Farmers must to be vigilant at all times when carrying out machinery operations on farm, constantly scanning the surrounding area for potential risks, he said.
Reducing vehicle or machine speed also drastically reduces the risk of accidents occurring.
Farmers when operating machinery must be aware of blind spots and the accidents that could potentially be caused.
Farmers when operating machinery must be constantly aware of young children standing behind machines, in blind spots.
Farmers with young children need to be constantly alert, because a child could be standing in a blind spot as they are manoeuvring the machine. This could potentially lead to a serious or fatal accident.
Entering and exiting the tractor
In relation to entering/exiting the tractor, there is a procedure, with John stating that “there should be three points of contact when both entering and exiting the tractor”.
This procedure should be followed at all times to prevent injuries.
The three points of contact procedure for entering the tractor demonstrated above.
The operator, once finished with the machine, should apply the handbrake, lower front or back implements and put the machine in gear as a precautionary measure.
This will ensure the vehicle is completely secure.
Sergeant Catherine O’Gorman from Thomastown Garda Station, Co Kilkenny, stated at the event that “a lot of the time farm accidents are preventable and in relation to machinery operations visibility is key”.
Mirrors and windows on tractors and vehicles should be cleaned routinely to ensure good visibility.
The key message from the experts and IFA farm safety chair William Shortall was: "Farm safety doesn’t have to be expensive, not everything has to cost money to be correct.
"It is about adoption, identifying and addressing important safety issues on farm.”
Read more
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Blind spots and speeding were the focus for Teagasc health and safety specialist Dr John McNamara at the IFA's farm safety event in Mooncoin, Co Kilkenny, on Tuesday.
Most new tractors and machines being built now are a lot larger, can travel faster compared with 15 years ago and are not suited to small farmyards dotted around Ireland.
72% of farm deaths
"Over a 10-year period between 2008 and 2018, vehicle and machinery accidents accounted for 72% of farm deaths which are due to people either being crushed or struck by a machine,” McNamara told the crowd of 200 people at the farm safety event.
Farmers must to be vigilant at all times when carrying out machinery operations on farm, constantly scanning the surrounding area for potential risks, he said.
Reducing vehicle or machine speed also drastically reduces the risk of accidents occurring.
Farmers when operating machinery must be aware of blind spots and the accidents that could potentially be caused.
Farmers when operating machinery must be constantly aware of young children standing behind machines, in blind spots.
Farmers with young children need to be constantly alert, because a child could be standing in a blind spot as they are manoeuvring the machine. This could potentially lead to a serious or fatal accident.
Entering and exiting the tractor
In relation to entering/exiting the tractor, there is a procedure, with John stating that “there should be three points of contact when both entering and exiting the tractor”.
This procedure should be followed at all times to prevent injuries.
The three points of contact procedure for entering the tractor demonstrated above.
The operator, once finished with the machine, should apply the handbrake, lower front or back implements and put the machine in gear as a precautionary measure.
This will ensure the vehicle is completely secure.
Sergeant Catherine O’Gorman from Thomastown Garda Station, Co Kilkenny, stated at the event that “a lot of the time farm accidents are preventable and in relation to machinery operations visibility is key”.
Mirrors and windows on tractors and vehicles should be cleaned routinely to ensure good visibility.
The key message from the experts and IFA farm safety chair William Shortall was: "Farm safety doesn’t have to be expensive, not everything has to cost money to be correct.
"It is about adoption, identifying and addressing important safety issues on farm.”
Read more
Mount Uniacke tractor run for charity
Farm accident survivors urge farmers to stop and think
Family members account for majority of accident claims
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