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Some simple steps can make the most dangerous job in Ireland a little safer

Sometimes it’s even a matter of just getting someone to help.

FARMERS ARE BEING urged to treat safety as a priority on farms after new research showed the extent to which some take risks on their farms

Farming is the occupation with the highest risk of fatality in Ireland with 138 people having been killed in farm accidents over the last seven years.

It means the fatality rate for farming is ten times higher than the average across other occupations.

In an effort to push for greater safety on farms, the ESRI has examined a survey of over 800 farmers that was carried to identify the most common risky practices they engage in.

It found one of most common dangerous problems for farmers is simply not having the help they need on the farm.

According to the survey,  the safety precaution farmers most commonly fail to take is ‘getting help with big jobs’. In this case, 27% of farmers they routinely fail to get someone else to help when taking on a big job.

Not getting help was found to be strongly associated with both accidents and near misses involving the farmer, according to the research.

Another common risky practice is not using safety gear such as goggles, ear defenders, high-vis vests. About one in four farmers also say that they routinely do not use safety gear.

Other safety precautions that are less frequently ignored but are still a problem include failing to check if machinery is in good working order and restraining animals properly.

In terms of accidents, 12% of farmers say they had previously been personally involved in an accident while 27% had had a near miss.

Risk factors

The research also examined the common risks the circumstances of the farmers to see if there were any trends and to better focus the advice being handed out.

The ESRI’s report found that farmers with larger farms were more were more likely to work without safety gear but were less likely to work without help.

Work stress was not found to be a significant factor in whether farmers are more likely to engage in risky behaviour, nor was whether or not they had children.

The authors of the report have said that the report provides guidance for policy makers in how best to direct farm safety accidents. Getting help with difficult jobs and checking machinery are among the clearest areas for improvement.

“This research is important because it helps us to develop a deeper understanding of the mindset of farmers and why unsafe practices are occurring,” according to the Health and Safety Authority’s Martin O’Halloran.

“Once we understand what triggers risk taking on farms we can implement strategies that are appropriate, for the industry, and will bring about a sustained reduction in accidents.”

Read: Wexford father-of-three dies following domestic accident involving incinerator >

Read: Two men die in separate farm accidents >

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    Mute tmwtbc
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    Jul 10th 2015, 5:01 PM

    I honestly thought that was Graham Dwyer in the lead photo.

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    Mute James Mc Loughlin
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    Jul 10th 2015, 9:28 PM

    this bridge was up graded and now some fool wants to remove it .can you picture the traffic back up with children trying to cross the road.in the first place the road is too wide and would need an island in the middle of this all ready conjested road.leave it alone and keep death off the road.the dublin city counciller who thought up this mad idea should jack in the job

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    Mute Beachmaster
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    Jul 10th 2015, 4:40 PM

    I’d advise people to be very careful about what you comment about this article….wouldn’t want it to be used as an example of how politicians are being given a hard time online.

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    Mute Ray Farrelly
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    Jul 10th 2015, 4:45 PM

    He will looking for a job after the next election.

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    Mute Pharmyco
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    Jul 10th 2015, 4:45 PM

    A hard time? I’m sure the minister can stand up for himself

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    Mute Donal O'Brien
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    Jul 10th 2015, 6:37 PM

    His teaching job will be there waiting for him.

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    Mute Ray Farrelly
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    Jul 10th 2015, 6:44 PM

    I wonder will he be welcome back in the north wall.

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    Mute Éamonn Mac Eochaidh
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    Jul 10th 2015, 4:48 PM

    What next – somebody using Fidelma Healy Eames or Lorraine Higgins’ photos to attract a man on Tinder, or worse?

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    Mute Colin Webber
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    Jul 10th 2015, 6:32 PM

    I think Fidelma Healy Eames is incredibly attractive. Seriously. She’s a very good looking woman.

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    Mute Miriam Kane
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    Jul 10th 2015, 4:48 PM

    Ha ha ha I wonder did he get any takers

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    Mute Conor Power
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    Jul 10th 2015, 4:53 PM

    Who could forget the time hackers attacked Fianna Fail TD Micheal McGrath. They hacked his Facebook page so they could ‘like ‘Milf of the Day’. Those ‘hackers’ eh??

    http://www.dailyedge.ie/michael-mcgrath-milf-facebook-hack-1180951-Nov2013/

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    Mute steve white
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    Jul 10th 2015, 9:20 PM

    because if he was really using Tinder he’d use a Irish Times file photo?

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    Mute Vicko Aguilar
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    Jul 10th 2015, 5:33 PM

    And everyone has to believe the profile is not his!! Lol

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    Mute laura b
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    Jul 10th 2015, 6:48 PM

    Wasted my vote on this clown ..I feel like a right mug

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    Mute Del Bionic
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    Jul 11th 2015, 3:14 AM

    Seems to be the only member of Labour talking sense these days, so why the wasted vote?

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    Mute laura b
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    Jul 11th 2015, 3:34 PM

    Is that you Aodhain ?

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    Mute Rashers Tierney
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    Jul 10th 2015, 5:50 PM

    “The Master is unmarried, and is likely to remain so “.

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    Mute Marc Power
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    Jul 10th 2015, 5:24 PM

    so what, ?…He’s an adult

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    Mute Ignoreland
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    Jul 10th 2015, 7:24 PM

    Polling the electorate…

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