Farmers warned of machinery risk

Visitors to the Farm Machinery Show in Punchestown Event Centre, Co Kildare, heard that 18 of the 50 reported workplace fatalities last year were on farms. Some 3,000 people are injured in the agri-sector annually.

Minister of State Brendan Smith said these non-fatal accidents also bring disability, suffering and economic hardship to those affected.

�Accidents are occurring despite the fact that manufacturers have improved the safety features and devices on machinery over the past number of years,� he said.

He said the main reason for accidents is human error rather than mechanical failings.

A major campaign has been launched by the Government, in association with the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), to raise awareness of the dangers at farm level. Mr Smith said a safety training programme for farmers will be put in place in the near future.

As part of this campaign, a copy of the agriculture HSA Code of Practice has been sent to every farmer.

Mr Smith said farmers should be aware they are legally obliged to ensure their farms are safe places for themselves and others to carry out their work.

All farmers must have completed either a safety statement or a risk assessment document.

He urged all farmers to make a commitment to put the code of practice in place on their farms this year and to put safety first at all times when operating or working on machinery.