The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) yesterday began an investigation into the death of a man in Ballina, Co Mayo in a farmyard accident.
Mr William "Major" Jackson, Culleens, Killala Road, Ballina, died while delivering a consignment of timber to a farmyard near his home late on Monday night.
He was crushed when he was wedged between a lorry he was driving for a local hardware firm and a wall.
Mr Jackson, in his late fifties, was married with seven children - six girls and a boy.
He worked for the Brooks Hanley business in Ballina and was well known in the equestrian business and in showjumping circles.
Confirming that an investigation was being conducted into the accident, a HSA spokeswoman said that if categorised as a farm accident, this would be the eighth so far this year.
Agriculture and forestry remain the most hazardous sectors in Irish industry, according to the HSA.
In its annual report for 2002, published last week, it reported there were 13 fatalities in total, two of whom were children.
While this represented a dramatic decrease from the 24 people who lost their lives in 2001, the authority had warned of the need to remain vigilant.
Mr Tom Beegan, chief executive of the authority, said the HSA has prioritised the agricultural sector because of the serious hazards involved and because of the number of deaths which occur in the sector every year.
"Farm work is particularly dangerous and the message we have sent out in 2002 is clear - farmers cannot afford to take risks with their safety, or that of their children or employees," he said.
"Of course we did not just limit our work to inspection and enforcement in the agricultural sector.
"Dissemination of information and education of people involved in the sector is of equal importance to us," he said.
The HSA co-ordinates a National Farm Safety Week annually and works closely with the farm organisations to highlight the dangers involved in farm work.
According to its annual report for 2002, the authority carried out a total of 1,255 inspections in the agriculture sector.
More than one in five visits by inspectors led to enforcement notices being served on those involved.