Machinery is the big killer so far this year

FOUR out of the five farm deaths so far in 2016 were associated with farm vehicles and machinery, according to the latest Teagasc figures.

This week, Teagasc Health and Safety Specialist, Dr. John McNamara, made a renewed call for more care and caution to be taken when working with farm machinery.

He said that with the early summer being a particularly busy time on many farms, it was vital that the utmost care was taken when working with machinery.

“One death, or injury is one too many, and a high state of vigilance is needed as the busy summer work season progresses and the school holidays approach.

“Reversing the recent trend of farm deaths, due to ‘knock-downs or being crushed’ by tractors and machinery, will only be achieved by strong farmer vigilance.

“Farmers should also pay particular attention to parking tractors safely, applying the handbrake and lowering hydraulic equipment, to reduce the safety risk to themselves and others,” said John McNamara

According to the Teagasc figures so far in 2016, 5 persons lost their lives in farm accidents [four with machienry] in the first five months, compared to 6 in 2015 and 12 in 2014.

Dr McNamara also called for high vigilance when using power driven machinery due to the possibility of gruesome entanglement fatalities and injuries.

“All power shafts and machine guards need to be kept in place and the power must always be switched off before approaching a machine,” he said.

The Teagasc specialist also called for greater vigilance on farms related to the safety of children as school holidays approach.  He said that over the last 10 years fatal accidents involving children were associated with tractors (75%); falls or collapses (17%), and drowning (8%).