Vol. 500 No. 4
40 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the increase in farm fatalities and accidents reported in the first half of 1998 continued in the second half of the year; and the further proposals, if any, she has to encourage farm safety. [4274/99]
The Health and Safety Authority is the State body charged with responsibility for the day to day enforcement of workplace health and safety legislation. A total of 26 fatalities and 39 non-fatal accidents in the agricultural sector were reported to the Authority for 1998.
I express my personal disappointment, and that of the Authority, at the increased level of farm fatalities and accidents in 1998. It is a source of particular concern to see that six of the fatalities in 1998 were children under the age of 12.
Agriculture has always been treated as a priority area of activity by the Authority which carries out a high number of inspections every year in the sector, gives talks to farm groups countrywide and makes its staff available to farmers through attendance at farm shows and exhibitions including the National Ploughing Championship. In addition, the Authority provides an extensive range of guidance literature and information on the control of farm hazards. The Authority, through its Farm Safety Task Force, the members of which are drawn from the farming community, works closely with the farming representative bodies and organisations such as Teagasc, the Co-Op movement, the farm relief service and also the insurance industry in order to highlight the hazards associated with farming, the risks to family and workers and the measures required to control such hazards.
It is my firm belief that, as with all sectors of employment, prevention is the key to addressing the problem of accidents and fatalities. Farmers themselves can play a primary role in reducing the number of farm accidents. The 1998 farm fatality figures are a harsh reminder of the constant need for vigilance. Farmers must acknowledge that farming is a hazardous occupation, that accidents can happen on their own farm and that an investment in safety measures will reap its own rewards. In this context, I would strongly urge all farmers who have not done so to draw up a safety statement and where such statements exist to keep them under regular review. I would also appeal to all farmers and farm workers to treat their work as the high-risk activity that it actually is, and to exercise constant care in their work practices, especially where there are children on the farm.
In 1999, the Authority will continue its general inspection programme with 1,000 inspections planned in farming and forestry operations. In addition, the promotion of child safety in farming will be a priority for the Authority who will work closely with farming organisations, education authorities and the Garda Community Liaison Service on the issue. Particular emphasis will also be placed by the Authority on encouraging famers to carry out appropriate risk assessments and to draw up safety statements.
