It can be dangerous down on the farm

Tuesday, 31 August 2010 15:13

Written by Tom Gillespie

I was surprised to learn that farm deaths in this country account for over 50 per cent of all occupational deaths in the State.
And it appears the death rate is on the increase as so far this year there have been seven more than in the whole of last year.
This calls for drastic action by the farming sector to reduce these workplace fatalities.
Local Minister for Labour Affairs, Dara Calleary, made the plea recently at the official opening of the National Farm Safety Conference, for greater care on the farm to prevent these accidents.
Professor Gerry Boyle, director of Teagasc, told the conference research had shown a link between health and safety and human behaviour and management.
It also showed that victims of farm accidents worked excessively long hours and many were working on their own.
This, unfortunately, is a fact of Irish farm life that is fast becoming a no-go area for young people who do not see a future in agriculture.
The children of farm families do not want, it appears, to follow in their parents' footsteps and prefer the bright lights to the long hours of toil that a career on the land would offer.
The conference was told research had found power-shaft guards were missing in 80 per cent of the power-shaft injuries treated, and loose clothing and rushing at work were associated with 40 per cent of injuries.
The national study also showed survival rates after power shaft injuries declined as farmers grew older, with the average age of fatal power-shaft victims 46 years old compared to 28 years old for survivors.
The IFA have been very much to the fore in highlighting the need for care on the farm and have run campaigns urging farm folk to be more safety conscious.
Fatalities involving farm animals have also been a source of concern for the organisation.
HSA figures released recently showed 65 per cent of farmers were meeting their legal requirements in having a safety statement or a code of practice for their farm, which represented a significant increase on previous years.
This, of course, is encouraging and will hopefully see a decrease in farm accidents.
With recessionary times perhaps a live on the farm is the answer to becoming self-sufficient.
Sadly, statistics show it can be a dangerous occupation. Yet we are a farming nation and no doubt it will continue for centuries to come.