HSA blitz on safety with animals

A TWO-WEEK farm inspection campaign by the HSA (Health and Safety Authority) aims to highlight the serious dangers posed by animals during the calving season which is due to get into full swing over the next fortnight.

According to the HSA, while there was a ‘significant decline’ in farm fatalities during 2021, there were still far too many deaths in agriculture over the past year.

Three people died as a result of accidents while working with cattle in 2021, while of the 196 people who died in farming incidents over the past decade, 38 of those were in the livestock sector.

The HSA has asked all farmers to ensure that the following five questions are answered to their satisfaction when working with livestock.

■ Is there a plan in place to minimise the risk of attack?

■ Has an adequate physical barrier been established between the farmer and the freshly calved cow when tagging, treating and handling calves?

■ Is there adequate lighting in the yard and farm buildings?

■ Do you need help? Are the extra resources trained and experienced?

■ Are facilities and procedures adequate for loading and unloading animals?

Galway IFA Dairy Committee Representative, Noel Murphy, told the Farming Tribune that farmers always needed to guard against complacency when dealing with dangers on the farm and especially so with machinery and animals.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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