Holly Cairns
Question:2165. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on introducing a scrappage scheme for power take-off shafts. [41741/22]
View answerTuesday, 26 July 2022
Questions (2165)
Written answers
Fatal incidents on farms account for almost 50% of all workplace fatal incidents. In addition, there are approximately 2,800 non-fatal incidents each year on Irish farms.
Entanglement in uncovered and poorly protected PTO shafts and machinery has resulted in farm fatalities and serious injuries including loss of limbs.
This Government has prioritised farm safety, health and wellbeing. Dedicated funding of €2.25m was allocated in Budget 2022 for a range of initiatives. These initiatives promote farm safety practices and risk awareness and encourage behavioural change around farm safety, while also supporting those who have been impacted by fatal and non-fatal incidents.
However, it is important to recognise that there are responsibilities at individual level including under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 which places a legal obligation on employers, including farmers, to provide a safe workplace.
As part of this obligation, farmers must ensure that all PTO shafts are protected by PTO covers and guards, a relatively modest piece of equipment from cost perspective, before operating PTO powered farm machinery.
Farm Safety is a key priority of mine and of Minister of State Heydon who has special responsibility for farm safety. My Department is currently working on new initiatives for launching in 2023.