With increased pressure on farmers to become more productive, it is important to remember that working harder and faster is not always smarter or better. This week is farm safety week. This year, the campaign is focusing on what happens when farm safety is fully embraced and implemented on farms. The message from farm safety week 2018 is: your health, your safety, your choice.

There is no room for shortcuts when working on a farm. With children and older people being particularly at risk, it is important not to rely on the family as the sole solution to extra labour. Working smarter and being well-organised can allow you to take your time while completing potentially dangerous tasks. A recent study carried out by the HSA showed the biggest risks taken by farmers were not getting help with big tasks and not wearing protective equipment.

Farm deaths

Information from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) states that over the last 10 years, there have been 210 on-farm deaths in the Republic of Ireland (2008 to 2017). The main causes of these deaths were tractors or farm vehicles (30%), machinery (20%) and livestock (13%). Other common causes of deaths are drowning/slurry gas, falls, falling objects, electrical accidents and timber-related accidents.

These statistics make farming the most dangerous profession in Ireland and the UK even though it employs a very small number of people. It is important to remember that farming is a unique sector which incorporates the young and the old who are not technically employees on the farm. Alarmingly, 11% of all farm deaths were children, while 35% were over the age of 65. Crush injuries are the predominant cause of death from machinery and vehicles. Over half of the deaths caused by machinery and vehicles are crush injuries. So far, there have been 12 deaths in 2018 on farms in Ireland. There was a total of 24 deaths in 2017. Vehicles and tractors have caused five, livestock three, while machinery and equipment, falls from a height and drowning/gas all caused one death. In Northern Ireland, there have been 70 deaths in the last 10 years (from January 2008 to June 2018). According to the HSENI, three deaths have occurred this year with two related to the handling of livestock and one related to machinery. Fifty-four per cent of the deaths relating to livestock are caused by heifers or cows.

Risks

It is important to note that figures that account for fatalities do not factor in the near misses. It is often only after the worst-case scenario becomes reality that attitudes change, according to the HSA.

By nature, risks are taken because of a familiarity with the work environment on farms. Complacency is described as the most lethal killer on Irish farms. This year, farmers are being reminded that they have the responsibility and choice to look after themselves while working on the farm. Near misses and minor injuries should be taken as seriously as an accident that caused a farm death.