| HSA concerned that only one-third of farmers use Code |
|
The HSA is concerned that nearly two-thirds of farmers are not using the Farm Safety Code of Practice, a copy of which was sent to every farmer in the country over two years ago.
Speaking at the National Farm Health and Safety Seminar, senior HSA
inspector Pat Griffin told delegates that a survey carried out by
Teagasc shows that almost two-thirds of farmers have not completed the
Code. He said a copy of the Code was sent to every farmer in the country and that “there is simply no excuse for such a low compliance rate”. Farmers must, he added, “take personal responsibility for their own health and safety”. He told farmers that the Authority’s inspectors investigate “appalling tragedies on farms, many involving young children”. It cannot continue. Figures presented at the seminar show that while the farming sector comprises just over 6% of the working population, it accounts for 30% of workplace deaths each year. Twenty-one people were killed in farm accidents in 2008 and so far this year there have been six deaths (Mr Griffin was speaking on August 14th). Giving further details of the Teagasc survey, the organisation’s health and safety officer, John McNamara, said farmers “do not demand safety training or advice”. Eight percent of farmers had only a low level of safety training. Presenting a paper on the impact of injury and ill-health on farming businesses, Shane Whelan, a Walsh research fellow at UCD, said that since 1989 over 200 farmers had lost their lives in farm accidents. Farmers, he said suffered a high rate of disability, which impacted on their ability to earn a living. |
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