Vol. 511 No. 6
61 Mr. Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps, if any, she is taking to reduce the number of farm accidents, having particular regard to the annual report of the Health and Safety Authority which showed that 25 of the total of 70 people killed at work during 1998 were in the agricultural sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22420/99]
The Health and Safety Authority is the State body charged with responsibility for the administration, enforcement and promotion of all workplace health and safety legislation. The number of people killed in work-related accidents in the agriculture sector in 1998 was 26, of whom seven were children. The authority, in both its 1999 and 2000 work programmes, will continue to carry out targeted inspection, promotional and advisory activities aimed at reducing accident and fatality rates in the agricultural sector.
The Health and Safety Authority, in 1999, has set a target of 1000 inspections in the farming and forestry sector. which is an increase of 200 over the 1998 figure. In addition to inspection activities, the authority also engages in promotional activities and has an extensive range of information material available to anyone seeking advice and guidance. The authority works closely with all of the major farming bodies in promoting farm safety.
The authority has, in particular, emphasised to farmers the need to carry out appropriate risk assessments and to draw up safety statements to cover all hazards on the farm. In September of this year the Authority launched a farm safety handbook at the National Ploughing Championships. It is a handbook of practical advice and guidance for farmers to enable them to achieve high standards of health and safety during farming operations. In addition, the authority is participating in a European campaign on farm safety focusing, in particular, on safety statements and child safety education and training.
The authority's farm safety task force also continues to offer guidance to the authority and to spearhead promotional activities. The members of this task force are drawn from the farming community itself and they work closely with farming organisations such as the IFA, the ICMSA, the ICA and Teagasc. Farm safety is a priority area of activity and attention for both myself and the Health and Safety Authority. The authority will continue to consult, at top level, with the main farming interests so that adequate direction is given to the efforts to reduce accidents on farms.
