Speaking at the launch of a Health and Safety conference for farming families, Fine Gael TD for Wicklow/East Carlow Andrew Doyle has highlighted the dangers of the farming workplace and the need for vigilance and attention to all efforts which aim to promote safe farming practices.
“The relevance of the event, which aimed to build awareness amongst farmers around the risks associated with farming, was emphasised following on from a very bad year in terms of fatal accidents on Irish farms with 80% more accidents in 2014 than in 2013. Farming is proven to be the most dangerous occupation in the country and with no sign of decreasing levels of accidents, all initiatives to educate and change behaviours in this economic sector must be strongly supported.
“The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) recently got in touch with all schools before the summer break about farm safety and this comes with renewed appeals for adults working on farms to think about the example they are showing to children and young people and to always find a way to work safely.
The HSA has primary responsibility for Health & Safety with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine(DAFM) and have issued a Farm Safety Leaflet with the Single payment application packs to over 130,000 farmers. This is a joint initiative between the DAFM, HSA and the Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee (made up of representatives of state agencies, industry and farming bodies). Discussion groups on farm safety also form part of the 2015-2020 Rural Development Plan. The DAFM also have issued text alerts to farmers in relation to increasing awareness of farm safety.
“The Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme has an element to it which provides investment for animal welfare and farm safety. Working groups from the Farm Safety Action Plan 2013-2015, link in with the Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee which all goes to demonstrate the awareness and actions that are in place in order to promote safety in the farm workplace.
“I welcome that occupational safety and health is receiving the focus it deserves in the agricultural sector and I would urge farmers and persons in the sector to do everything possible to educate themselves on best practices and to identify and take the relevant actions to make improvements where possible in their workplace.
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