Galway has escaped the horror of farm deaths…so far

The farming community in Galway have again being asked to be on ‘red alert’ when it comes to safety on their properties.

It follows the devastation experienced by two families this week following farm accidents that possibly could have been prevented.

There have been 17 farm tragedies across the country this year – already more than the whole of last year – and fortunately none have touched County Galway.

But Chairman of County Galway IFA Pat Murphy knows that there have been a number of near misses on County Galway farms. He told Farming Tribune that there were many people that have been left with serious injuries on farms in the county and were lucky to be alive.

Mr. Murphy has now stepped up the campaign to ensure that further farm accidents or deaths do not happen as he described them as a devastation for every family that had to bear the grief.

He said that every farm tragedy could have been avoided that he added that the farming community had to ensure that their children were protected and safe at all times.

Farm machinery has been the main cause of tragedies so far this year but so too has slurry been responsible and particularly during agitation.

“The motto is evacuation, ventilation before any agitation”, Mr. Murphy emphasised.

The IFA, along with the Health and Safety Authority, have put in considerable resources warning the public about the dangers in farms.

There was shock over the weekend following the deaths of two young people on farms and particularly regarding the circumstances of their deaths.

Pat Murphy said farming was a high-risk occupation, but accidents and injuries could be prevented by taking time and working safely.

“Being tired, distracted and stressed is often a reality on busy farms and every effort must be made to avoid shortcuts.

“At the peak of this busy summer season on farms, safety must come first”, Mr. Murphy added.

At the IFA’s National Farm Safety Awareness Day last month, the IFA President appealed to farm families to dedicate time to thinking about health and safety on their farms; to identify potential danger areas and to consider ways to minimise risks.

The IFA has a dedicated ‘Farm Safety’ section on its website www.ifa.ie, which provides farm safety videos, booklets, links and information. This will complement a range of initiatives, including messages in the IFA calendar, text alerts to their members and regular updates through their County Executive network.