Improving rural industry health and safety

Posted: February 26, 2013

Posted in: Workplace Injuries 

The Rural Industries Section of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health Ireland Branch is to hold an event to discuss solutions to cut the high injury and fatality rates across Ireland’s rural industries. The move comes after there were 28 deaths in agriculture, forestry, and fishing last year in Ireland.

Michael Cusack, Rural Industries Section chair said:

“With almost 120 work-related deaths in agriculture, forestry and fishing in the last five years, these statistics are remaining worryingly high.

“We’re also finding that the ageing workforce in the farm industry is becoming an increasing factor in both fatal and non-fatal farm accidents. With Irish farmers currently at an average age of 57, we need to find ways of communicating good health and safety to this group and improving practice.

“Farming equipment, machinery and all-terrain vehicles can be extremely hazardous if they aren’t treated with respect and operated in a safe manner. With this event, we’re giving practical advice on how to prevent injuries and ill-health when using them, as well as equipping managers and health and safety professionals with the tools to get their messages through to workers.”

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