BeSafe

The health and safety of farmers is a significant challenge for the social sustainability of Irish agriculture. Though fatality rates have fallen in other industries in the past 20 years, rates in agriculture have remained stubbornly high. Farming is not like other occupations.

Farmers commonly work alone for extended periods of time. They self-supervise their work practices and behaviours. Farming involves multiple tasks that can be affected by external factors, e.g. the weather. Given the unique occupational characteristics of farming there is a need to tailor approaches that seek to improve safety.

Objectives

The aim of the BeSafe project is to develop and support the adoption of these approaches thereby effecting positive lasting change. The BeSafe project is led by Dr. David Meredith (Teagasc) and involves researchers from Teagasc, NUI Galway, and UCD. The team is complimented by extension specialists from Teagasc, regulatory specialists from the Health and Safety Authority and supported by the Farm Safety Partnership.

Actions

1. Project Management
2. Risk perceptions and behavioural intention for health and safety among farmers
3. Risk perceptions and behavioural intention for health and safety among agriculture students in the development of professional knowledge
4. Comparative assessment of knowledge transfer (farm extension services) and regulatory systems governing OHS practices among selected European Countries
5. Quantifying the exposure to risk: an evaluation of the relationship between time spent working, farm accidents and fatalities
6. Learning from the DAFM Knowledge Transfer OHS initiative: An assessment of facilitator’s and farmer’s experiences and outcomes
7. Identification and Analysis of Behavioural Machinery-related Farm Safety Interventions
8. Adoption of safer work systems for handling livestock and managing facilities on farms,  and effecting change in farmer behavior
9. Participatory co-design of interventions to enhance farm safety
10. Dissemination

Project Partners

Dr Denis O’Hora, University of Galway
Dr Aoife Osborne, University College Dublin
Dr Jennifer McSharry, University of Galway
Dr Marijke Beltman, University College Dublin
Aswathi Surendran, University of Galway

Funding

The BeSAFE project is aligned with the EU funded (COST Action) SACURIMA