This article is from page 45 of the 2012-01-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 45 JPG
IN LIGHT of recent figures that show a jump in the number of farm related accidents, Clare farmers are being urged to attend rural health and safety conference.
Organised by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), Western District Committee, a seminar on farm safety will take place at the Greenhills Hotel, Limerick, on Tuesday, January 17, at 7pm.
The event will cover a number of topics including: the challenges of health and safety in farming; practical approach to farm risk assessments; safety covers and pesticide approval and the safety aspects of pesticide use.
Speakers on the night will include: John McNamara, Teagasc health and safety officer; Aidan Brennan, farm manager, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy; Gerry Graham, Reliance Bearing and Gear Co, Limerick.
A speaker from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine will be in attendance.
Geraldine Gregan, IOSH Western District Committee member, called on Clare farmers to attend the seminar. She said there needs to greater awareness of the dangers of operating farm machinery.
She said, “As professional safety officers we decided last September the need to organize a seminar on farm safety. Most industrial fatal accidents occur on farms. Traditionally farms are family units and there needs to be more of an emphasis on the fact that farms are mechanized industrial units.”
According to figures released last week, a total of 55 workplace deaths were reported to the Health and Safe- ty Authority (HAS) in 2011. During 2011 there were 22 killed while working in agriculture compared to 25 in 2010.
Over the last number of years the high fatality rate in agriculture has resulted in the authority increasing inspections and awareness raising activities in that sector. A new awareness raising campaign aimed at encouraging farmers to stop taking risks has just been launched.