FARMERS HAVE been asked to re-examine safety measures at a time of year when they are busy harvesting, and children are around the farmyard.
Some 18 people have died in farm mishaps already this year, compared with 11 for the whole of 2009. Tractors and machinery accounted for 10 of those deaths, while three fatalities were related to tree felling or timber.
The Health and Safety Authority, the Irish Farmers’ Association and FBD Insurance yesterday introduced an online risk-assessment system designed to reduce dangers around the farm.
According to the organisations, this is one of first online applications of its kind in the world for the agriculture sector.
The application, which can be accessed www.farmsafely.com, was first piloted in March and has attracted hundreds of hits. It allows farmers to complete their farm safety statements online and to keep their risk assessment statements up to date.
Health and Safety Authority chief executive Martin O’Halloran said improving safety and health in agriculture was one of the authority’s biggest challenges.
IFA president John Bryan said farmers had embraced technology, and he had no doubt this online tool would be a success.
www.farmsafely.com can also be accessed through www.hsa.ie, www.ifa.ie and www.fbd.ie
