As many as 100 accidents happen per month on Northern Irish farms which require medical treatment, the Farm Safety Partnership has said.
The Farm Safety Partnership (FSP) has launched its new Action Plan 2017-2020, entitled ‘Sustainable Safety’, highlighting its ongoing practical approach to every day farm safety.
The FSP said improving farm safety is of "critical importance" to the farming community in Northern Ireland. The organisation said that while much progress has been made, there remains "much work to be done".
A 2015 survey of Northern Ireland farmers suggests that there could be as many as 100 incidents per month on farms which require some form of medical intervention, many of these needing hospital treatment.
At this level, the FSP said it is "sadly unsurprising" that some of the more serious incidents can result in life changing injury or death.
'Wrong reasons'
Speaking at the launch Keith Morrison, Chairman of the Farm Safety Partnership said farming and food production play a "crucial role" in the life and economy of Northern Ireland.
“But unfortunately we have also seen farming in the headlines for the wrong reasons. All too often accidents happen on our farms which are preventable, so we want to continue to raise awareness for everyone working on, or visiting, a farm.
“HSENI is committed to working with our industry partners to inform and support their actions and drive forward improvements in farmers’ safety and health. We know that we need to continue to work with farmers of all ages to tackle the poor safety record and make farms safer places to work.”
'Change behaviours'
The key aim of this new 3-year plan is to "change behaviours by ensuring that farmers, their families and their employees are capable, motivated, and able to work safely and thereby reducing accidents on farms," according to FSP.
The FSP said that by working together a sustainable reduction in injury rates and occupational ill health in the Northern Ireland farming industry is achievable.
Also speaking at the launch, Barclay Bell, President Ulster Farmers Union, said: “We all know there are many pressures on farmers, not least prices and the weather, but the greatest threat to any farming business is an accident that leaves a family member unable to work or worse.
“We have made some progress in changing farmers' approach to risk, but there is still a big challenge ahead. That is why from the start of the Farm Safety Partnership the UFU has played an active role and will continue to do so.”
