21 July 2023
Be a Farm Safety Hero
Acknowledging a Farm Safety Hero is the Friday theme of Farm Safety Week 2023. John McNamara, Teagasc Senior Health and Safety Specialist tells us more
Teagasc wishes to particularly pay tribute to Farmers who have given an account of their injury or ill health so that others may learn from the account and prevent further occurrences. These accounts should motivate us all to give farm safety first priority.
These accounts also allow us to better understand the interplay of factors that lead up to an accident.
The Survivor Stories series can be found on that HS.A. website.
Teagasc also wishes to acknowledge Emergency service staff as Farm Safety Heroes who come to assistance when most needed.
Farming – High Risk
Farming is renowned for the wide range of potential accidents that can occur. On a farm there is a lot of movement; people, livestock vehicles and machinery and loads for example. Farm Accidents are caused mainly by the impact of an energy source on a person’s body. Examples include: being struck by a farm vehicle; a bale falling or an animal attack. Another accident cause is impairment of a vital bodily function. Examples include suffocation or bleeding.
Prevention is the Key
Prevention of accidents must involve the farmer and everyone working or living on the farm. We must always think ahead and seek to anticipate what set of circumstance could come together to cause an accident.
The Farm Safety Code of Practice and Risk Assessment document provide huge resources to inform about accident prevention.
Video – Managing Farm Health and Safety
Teagasc in conjunction with FBD Insurance and the H.S.A. Farm Safety Partnership advisory committee has produced a comprehensive video series on Managing Farm Health and Safety.
View the managing farm health and safety video series here.
Near Hits are Learning Resources
Near misses which can be more accurately described as ‘near hits’ can occur on farms. This is when all the factors were present for the accident but timing of factors avoids its occurrence. A near hit is a huge learning resource which should be used to drive on-going health and safety improvement. After a near hit, examine all the circumstances which arose and put prevention measures in place to prevent a re-occurrence.
Emergency Services
Emergency service staff are Farm Safety Heroes who come to our assistance when we most need it. They are highly trained and have only our best interests at heart. They deserve our utmost appreciation and support. Keep emergency numbers in a prominent place and on your mobile phone. In the event of an emergency, assess the situation and if necessary call the emergency services at an early stage. The emergency service will want to establish your precise location, so it is vital to have your Eircode and location details at hand.
Be a Farm Safety Hero
The Teagasc DAFM Funded BeSafe farmer behavioural safety indicates that just 26% of farmers adopt safe behaviours. A key approach to improve this is to move from ‘intention’ to ‘action’. Examine the way you farm and implement safe behaviours on a continuing basis. In your discussions with fellow farmers actively influence them to adopt safety behaviours. Be a Farm Safety Hero!
Farm Safety Week
Farm Safety Week is a campaign owned, funded and managed by the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Ireland the campaign is led by IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs committee.
#FarmSafetyWeek