Official statistics do not provide accurate measures of the level of farm injuries or their impacts on farmers, farm businesses or farm households, as these injuries are rarely reported in Ireland or across the EU. David Meredith, John McNamara and Diana van Doorn tell us more.

As part of the EU-funded SafeHabitus project, Teagasc researchers completed research highlighting statistical limitations of currently available data and proposing farm safety variables for inclusion in the annual EU Farm Sustainability Data Network (FSDN) survey. The research team leveraged Teagasc’s National Farm Survey’s 20 years of experience collecting such data to demonstrate tangible benefits for policy development.

This involved strategic multi-level engagement: first with EU policymakers at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, and secondly with the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development through formal workshops and informal meetings. This was followed by mobilising partners involved in the SafeHabitus project across 11 member states. Each partner liaised with their national FSDN coordinator to advocate for the inclusion of key variables summarising the number of work-related injuries on farms, whether a farm has a farm safety plan, and whether safety training was provided to workers and family members. This coordinated approach resulted in member states agreeing to incorporate the three key safety indicators in the FSDN survey, which will be implemented from 2025 onwards.

This initiative marks the creation of the first EU-wide standardised system for monitoring farm injuries among self-employed farmers. The project showcases how research-driven advocacy can bridge policy gaps, ultimately enhancing safety standards for agricultural workers across Europe.

Read more from 2024 Research Impact Highlights

Contact: david.meredith@teagasc.ie
Other contributors: SafeHabitus Partners
Funding: EU Horizon Europe
Impact Pathway: Policy Influencing