Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
1549. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of his Department’s farm safety research project BESAFE - Behaviours for Safer Farming: The health and safety of farmers is a significant challenge for the social sustainability of Irish agriculture; the funding allocated for the purposes of conducting this research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42057/21]
View answerThe BeSAFE project commenced on 1st October 2018 and is due to run until 30th September 2023.
The project was awarded almost €600,000 under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's 2017 National Research Call and seeks to understand the behavioural context shaping farm safety in Ireland with the objective of:
Improving knowledge and understanding of the issues involved, with particular attention being given to those associated with livestock handling and tractors/machinery,
Designing and piloting of measures to support farmers adopt safer practices
Developing the resources required by farm advisors / consultants to transfer this knowledge.
Although still in comparatively early stages, the project has so far reported a number of findings in relation to farm accident and fatality trends, and in particular has demonstrated progressively declining fatal accidents in certain farming enterprises.
Work continues on other aspects of this project including Identifying knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and priorities among farmers regarding safety and risk management, designing and implementing pilot interventions, targeting improvements in risk perception concerning animal and machinery related safety and developing safer working systems on farms for livestock handling and management of facilities.
