Promoting farm safety in Northern Ireland underway

Ways farmers throughout Northern Ireland can protect themselves and others from being seriously injured or killed are to be demonstrated by agricultural safety and health experts.

Common causes of injuries or deaths in agriculture will be brought into focus by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), with the charity aiming to highlight techniques to make the profession safer for workers, their families and the general public.

Thirty-three farm workers were killed across the UK in 2014-15. In Northern Ireland alone, 67 people lost their lives in work-related farming incidents between 2004 and 2013, including five children aged under 11.

In most instances, the tragedies were as a result of incidents which involved tractors or other farm vehicles and machinery. Other cases occurred while handling livestock or were caused by a worker becoming trapped or crushed, drowning or suffocating or falling from height.

It is against this backdrop that IOSH’s Northern Ireland Branch will join forces with the Institution’s Ireland Branch to host a free farm and farmer safety event at Teagasc’s Ballyhaise Agricultural College, in Co Cavan, on 11 November.

Safety issues around chainsaws and tree felling, tractors, use of chemicals, animal management, farm building construction and electricity, and slurry management will be explored with the help of experts from the college, Coillte and farm building management company Kilmoon Trading.

The event – the first that the IOSH Ireland and Northern Ireland branches have jointly held on the issue of farm safety – will also see the Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) highlight new and emerging farm safety trends.

IOSH Northern Ireland has been actively supporting HSENI’s Farm Safety Action Plan. The strategy, which runs until March 2017, outlines how the regulator plans to support the local farming community promote safe working and good practice.

Richard McIvor, Chair of IOSH Northern Ireland Branch, said members will continue to work with and support the HSENI through its activities to help reduce injuries and deaths in the farming industry.

He said: “Farm safety is an issue with relevance in both Northern Ireland and Ireland. We hope the event and demonstrations will drive home simple and easy steps that all people involved in agriculture can take in order to make it a safer and healthier profession for all.”

Liam Howe, Chair of IOSH Ireland Branch, said: “Through this event we want to support and build on the good work of the HSA, HSENI and other health services and organisations that are promoting initiatives to improve farm safety.

“We also recognise that IOSH has a role to play in supporting farmers to work safely in an ever-changing and demanding profession.”