IFA Launch Farm Safety Leaflet as Part of ‘think Safety-farm Safely’ Campaign

Launching a Farm Safety advisory leaflet at the Ploughing Championships today (Wed), IFA President John Bryan said the emphasis of the leaflet is to provide practical advice on safety measures to maintain the highest standards and minimise the risk of accidents on farms.

John Bryan said the leaflet is the latest initiative as part of IFA’s ‘Think Safety-Farm Safely’ campaign, which has been running since the beginning of the year. The campaign has focused on awareness, promotion and education around the importance of farm safety.

He said, “Nearly 50% of farm deaths in the last ten years have been caused by tractors, machinery and other vehicles. This worrying trend has continued this year, with a majority of the 17 fatalities caused by similar accidents. I would urge all farm families to follow the tips in the leaflet and ensure they adhere to them during their daily work.”

IFA Farm Family + Social Affairs Chairwoman Margaret Healy said the IFA campaign has included a dedicated farm safety talk with representatives from the Health and Safety Authority at each of the Association’s 29 County Executives.

“International experience has shown that to bring about a sustained improvement in farm safety, it is far more effective to incentivise rather than penalise. IFA will continue to highlight the need for ongoing education and increased awareness as the best way to reduce the risk on farms.”

Margaret Healy said, “Older members of farm families are particularly vulnerable because of decreased mobility and reaction time are probably the biggest contributory factors to accidents. Farm families should be especially alert to risks that may affect both older people and young children.”