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Farm safety is one of the critical issues facing farming today and, in common with many other developed countries, farming in Ireland has a poor safety record.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for farm safety, Martin Heydon, made these comments at the opening of the BeSAFE International Farm Safety and Farmer Health Conference at the Teagasc Research and Innovation Centre, Dunsany, Grange, Co. Meath, earlier this week.

A gathering of scientists, researchers and health and safety practitioners from Ireland and abroad, this conference provided an opportunity to showcase issues and approaches that are being worked on under BeSAFE – a Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine funded project – and how this research can make an impact - whether that be on a farm, supporting policy or strategy development.

Highlighting national statistics on farm safety from 2013 to 2022, Minister Heydon noted that farming accounted for approximately 40% of all fatal workplace incidents, which is hugely disproportionate given that farmers only account for 6% of the total workforce.

Citing Teagasc National Farm Survey data on non-fatal incidents, he said: “There are approximately 4,500 non-fatal incidents on farms every year and they get much less focus in the media or commentary.” However, he noted, that this high figure is a huge cause of concern.

Commenting on how these statistics can be improved, Minister Heydon said: “In many cases, fatal and non-fatal incidents can be prevented by simple changes to behaviour and practices and often at little or no financial cost. Attitudes and behaviours need to change. Unsafe practices must become socially unacceptable. I think that’s a huge part of the change here – changing mindset.”

If farming is to be attractive to the next generation, he said: “It must not only offer a decent income, but a healthy and safe working environment, and a family-friendly work-life balance, which hasn’t always been the case.”

“Improving farm safety is not just about educating farmers about the hazards and the risks on their farm. Studies show that many farmers are aware of the risks, but are prepared to take chances in order to get the job done. It is statistically proven that if we can reduce the amount of near misses, we will drive down the amount of fatal and non-fatal incidents on our farms.”

Discussing the measures introduced by the Department to bring about this change, Minister Heydon pointed to the National Farm Safety Measure 2023 – which provides a 60% grant for the funding of quad bike helmets and PTO shaft covers – the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme’s Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme, the provision of funding for calving and injecting simulators for agricultural colleges and research centres, the On Feirm Ground Programme, and eight EU-funded European Innovation Partnership projects in the area of farm safety.

He said: “As Minister with special responsibility for farm safety, I have prioritised efforts to improve the record on farm safety, health and wellbeing. This year, we have dedicated funds of €2.5 million from my department and this has been allocated to initiatives to improve farm safety and wellness amoung our farming community. These initiatives promote farm safety practices and risk awareness and seek to encourage behavioural change around farm safety to reduce the incidents of farm fatalities and life changing injuries, while also supporting those who have been impacted by fatal and non-fatal incidents.”

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