250 farms face visits from HSA inspectors

OVER 250 farmers across the country are to receive inspections from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) between now and the end of next week, as part of the ongoing campaign to prevent deaths and serious injuries on Irish farms.

The HSA said that the inspections would focus on reviewing all of the key areas of safety management on farms, with farmers also required to fill out a risk assessment document.

The inspections will focus on such areas as safe slurry handling, the proper maintenance of farm machinery especially PTOs, handling and loading facilities for livestock, farmyards and buildings as well as electrical equipment.

Last week the HSA launched a safety DVD highlighting the serious dangers posed by slurry gas and featuring former Galway football star Noel Tierney.

There were 16 people killed on Irish farm accidents last year with machinery the biggest culprit claiming eight lives. Of the rest, three died in falls, two were drowned/gassed, while electrocution, livestock and ‘being crushed’ claimed one life each.

Galway IFA Chairman, Pat Murphy, said that anything that would help to keep farmers and their families safe had to be encouraged.

“People mightn’t like the sound of inspections but they can really be helpful in terms of identifying risk areas on farms.

“We all have to put safety up at the top of the priority list on Irish farms. Too many lives have been lost and too many families have been visited by tragedies,” said Pat Murphy.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune