Fianna Fáil Senator and Seanad Spokesperson on Agriculture and Food Paul Daly has urged farmers to take a moment this week to review their operations in terms of safety when working with machinery and around the farmyard
Senator Daly was commenting at the beginning of Farm Safety Week 2020.
He commented, “The Irish Farmers Association, in conjunction with their counterparts in the UK, run this annual important reminder for all in our community to remain extra vigilant while working on farms.
“Reading the report published to mark Farm Safety Week 2020, ‘Trauma on Farms in the Republic of Ireland’, the statistics are a frightening reminder of the dangers farmers put themselves in. Accidents can happen and are not confined to any age. I understand from the report, patients age range was from less than one years old to 93 years old. The median age was 54.5 years old.
“I am very concerned that 6% of accidents occurred involved children. Farming is a family business and we know the involvement the whole family plays in running a family farm. This report should be a reminder to take those extra steps to ensure children are supervised on farms.
“The Programme for Government sets out numerous policies which will improve the livelihood of those farm families who have had a number of difficult years in the sector. I look forward to working with my Party colleague, Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine Dara Calleary TD, and Ministers of State Martin Heydon TD and Senator Pippa Hacket over the lifetime of this new government to see these policies implemented.
“There are many steps we can take to improve safety on the farm. I would urge those in the industry like myself, to take a moment this week to remind themselves of the best practise when working with machinery and around the farmyard,” concluded Senator Daly.