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Another farm safety campaign considered after deaths of four children

Although the number of deaths has reduced, there is still much work to do to make Irish farms safer for young people.

TRACTOR TYRES PERCHED against outdoor walls, accessible slurry pits and large pieces of machinery not being turned off appropriately are just some of the dangers facing children on farms.

However, something as simple as an open gate could also lead to a tragedy.

Last year, four children died on Irish farms. The Health and Safety Authority said it was “particularly concerned” that there were such young victims of what they describe as ‘workplace accidents’.

“We recognise that some jobs can be more hazardous than others, the number of fatalities in Agriculture each year bears that out. However, we will never accept that these deaths are inevitable and cannot be prevented,” the CEO Martin O’Halloran said on the publication of the agency’s 2013 report earlier this week.

And now, another health and safety organisation is looking at the possibility of planning an information campaign this year.

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) Ireland Branch works with businesses and government, with the aim of reducing injury and ill-health across the country.

Its chair Michelle Peate-Morgan told TheJournal.ie that any fatality in the workplace is a tragedy.

All are preventable and we are equally concerned about the rise in children dying in agriculture.

She noted that there has been extremely positive engagement with farmers over recent years and that Irish farms, while safer than most European counterparts, are still dangerous.

“The industry needs to be aware that on family farms, children don’t see the dangers,” she explained. “Open farm gates, slurry pits, large pieces of machinery, tractor wheels against walls that can easily fall down and injure, are all examples. As are farm animals themselves.”

She says that along with the HSA, her organisation works to help farmers deal pragmatically and practically with the risk assessment of such hazards.

Peate-Morgan said the IOSH is launching a media campaign in the UK this year and will examine the possibility of doing something similar in Ireland.

A total of 16 people died on Irish farms last year, a reduction from the 21 fatalities recording in 2012.

Related: 46 people killed in workplace accidents last year

More: Farmers’ association urges caution as busy farms signal rise in accidents

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18 Comments
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    Mute Drew Clarke
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    Jan 12th 2014, 4:42 PM

    I recently learned an old schoolfriend of mine was killed on the family farm when his father’s tractor overturned on a very steep slope. 18 years old. Soon after, his younger brother was killed in a car accident. The parents are now childless. Both accidents were preventable.

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    Mute ThomasFrancisMeagher
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    Jan 12th 2014, 6:07 PM

    Farms are really the only place where the home & the workplace are one & the same. It’s nearly impossible to reduce deaths to zero but every farmer I know would do his best to reduce risks to the minimum.

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    Mute Denito
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    Jan 13th 2014, 12:44 AM

    I’m a farmer myself with 3 young children aged 7 downwards. My very simple precaution is that I rarely bring my children to the farm at all and the odd time that I do, I focus solely on minding them and don’t do any jobs.
    It does sadden me a bit that they are less involved in the farm than I was at their age, but that’s a small price to pay for knowing that they’re out of harm’s way.

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    Mute Drew Clarke
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    Jan 13th 2014, 2:59 AM

    Glad to hear that Denito.

    I was told by another ex classmate the major post accident factor in his death was the ambulance and fire brigade couldn’t find the farm in question as it was in the middle of nowhere. He survived under part of the tractor for a long time, his father by his side holding his hand. Gut wrenching.

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    Mute Sean
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    Jan 12th 2014, 5:11 PM

    One thing i don’t understand is that if you are getting out of a tractor for whatever reason why people don’t turn off the PTO to reduce accidents.

    46
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    Mute Conor Heffernan
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    Jan 12th 2014, 5:53 PM

    Sometimes the tractor is used as a stationary engine for example while agitating slurry or power washing. Times like these require the PTO on but not a driver in the cab.

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    Mute Sean
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    Jan 12th 2014, 7:04 PM

    Yes i understand this but the amount of times I’ve heard of people fixing something on a machine and then getting caught in the machine when the PTO is not needed is too common

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    Mute Michael Garett
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    Jan 12th 2014, 5:12 PM

    Most farm inspections are done as part of bord bia QA checks by double jobbing bord bia “inspectors”. They have no power whatsoever. Total joke. If the HSA went out in force you might see improvements.

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    Mute Spud Jones
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    Jan 12th 2014, 4:58 PM

    There are dangers in every aspect if life, common sense is a learned behavior if we let Europe dictate what are acceptable dangers then this learned behavior diminishes, god knows some people should not be allowed a cat not a mind a child but Europe says let all have children and all have to bide by nonsensical rules.
    It’s called calculated risk, it’s what’s allowed us to get out if bed in the morning

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    Mute John Swan
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    Jan 12th 2014, 5:03 PM

    Exactly Spud, it becomes learned dependance on Europe’s Napoleonic law.

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    Mute Tim Higgins
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    Jan 12th 2014, 6:16 PM

    Ahh sur it would never happen to me attitude has to stop. A few of those ” Parents” need to be jailed in order for it to sink in.

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    Mute Tim Higgins
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    Jan 12th 2014, 6:17 PM

    Parent first, farmer second!

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    Mute Fergal Reid
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    Jan 12th 2014, 6:26 PM

    I don’t want one red cent of public money being spent on something that should come down to the individual responsibility of the farmer who owns the land.

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    Mute Michael Coughlan
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    Jan 12th 2014, 7:40 PM

    Its crazy what farmers get away with. Its one of the last few work place in Ireland which has such blatant disregard for safety, the government and more so the HSA need to grow a pair and tackle this!

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    Mute Timothy Bryce
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    Jan 12th 2014, 9:00 PM

    I take it you’ve never worked in the construction industry then.

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    Mute Mark Cox
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    Jan 13th 2014, 3:01 AM

    I’m a farmer myself and I take no chances. Pto’s are lethal u can’t take chances. I don’t hav kids but working on others farms I always strap them into the buddy seat in the tractor they all want to be on the tractor where the action is and u can keep safe eye on them. (Gonna get stick for that but have seen way to many near misses with kids roaming yards )

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    Mute Liam Higgins
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    Jan 14th 2014, 8:24 AM

    The HSA’s budget was cut for the fifth year in a row in the last budget. Yet they visit / inspect approx 15,000 places of business each year. All places and this includes farms, must abide by safety legislation. The HSA provide excellent information and guidance for farmers. The IFA also support the HSA.

    Putting blame on anybody is not the answer. Learning from past mistakes is the way to go. Safety is everybody’s duty and care regardless of where you work.

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    Mute Richard O'Gorman
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    Jan 13th 2014, 6:10 AM

    Blame the boggers in the big wellies.

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