Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 May 2005
54 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the details of planned initiatives on farm safety, in view of relative danger of the farm as a workplace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14222/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI remain very concerned about the level of safety on our farms and I support wholeheartedly the Programme of Work 2005 of the Health and Safety Authority which is the State authority charged with overall responsibility for promotion and enforcement of workplace health and safety.
The authority has a proactive inspection and enforcement programme which focuses on high risk sectors, including agriculture, and aims to achieve an improvement in farm safety, and an increase in the percentage of farms with safety statements.
To achieve these objectives actions are being taken to: focus initiatives on changing farmer behaviour as it relates to farm safety, inspect farms, agricultural suppliers and agricultural contractors and address the issues of safety statements, farm self-assessments, machine operation with a particular emphasis on tractor use, slurry handling, livestock handling, electrical installations, and child safety; review the code of practice on preventing accidents to children in agriculture; encourage, promote and implement the approach outlined in the farm safety action plan 2003-07; and undertake innovative approaches with other interested parties in the agricultural sector to promote farm safety.
While I welcome and support the efforts of the Health and Safety Authority, it is clear to me that the primary responsibility for safety on the farm rests personally with each and every farmer and it is ultimately only at farm level that the actions can be taken which will avoid injuries and deaths in the future.
