Farm Safety Week set to get underway

Farm Safety Week will get underway on Monday next, July 22 and continue until Friday, July 26.

The week was launched recently on the Delaney farm in Co Laois by the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture with responsibility for Farm Safety, Martin Heydon.

IFA President Francie Gorman encouraged farmers to make safety a priority on their farm during Farm Safety Week and to take the necessary steps to safeguard themselves and their families on the farm.

"By making safety a priority on your farm, you’re not only protecting your wellbeing, but also ensuring the longevity and success of your farming operations,” Francie Gorman said. IFA Farm Family & Social Affairs Chair Teresa Roche said the rate of farm accidents and fatalities is too high, and we need to make safety a number one priority.

“Farm work can be hazardous, but many accidents are preventable. By being mindful of safety and taking proactive measures, you can protect yourself and those who depend on you. I urge farmers to make changes now to create safer working environments,” she said.

The topics that will be covered throughout the week are as follows: Near misses and under reporting; The Great Outdoors – the hidden dangers of working outdoors; Are you fit to farm? and Farm Safety Hero

Initiated by the Farm Safety Foundation in the UK and led by the IFA in Ireland, Farm Safety Week has the support of more than 400 partners in five countries – here, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.