Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 November 2017
95. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount allocated by the Health and Safety Authority for farm safety initiatives in 2016, 2017 and 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51238/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table shows the funding allocated by the Health and Safety Authority for promotional activities regarding farm safety initiatives in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Table of Expenditure on Farm Safety Initiatives 2016 to 2018
|
Year |
Allocation * |
|
2016 |
€384,000 (estimated) |
|
2017 |
€287,000 (projected) |
|
2018 |
€287,000 (projected)** |
*Note - that annual figures allocated include some cross sectoral initiatives where the allocation could also be relevant to other sectors – it is not possible to extract this so it has been included as the full figure. In addition, some of the advertising initiatives would cross years, so the yearly figure is an estimate of the allocation relevant to that year.
** Note - the 2018 sectoral budget allocation is still subject to final approval.
The 2017 and 2018 allocations are based on a no policy change basis, the current projected figurers for 2017 and 2018 may look like an expenditure cut but the 2017 allocation does not take account of recent additional funding made available for safety initiatives in areas including agriculture.
The priority tasks for the HSA in relation to engagement with the farming sector for 2017 included:
- ongoing delivery of the Farm Safety Partnership Action Plan, 2016 to 2018;
- encouraging the work of 6 working groups under the above plan;
- continuing awareness campaigns through the media, events and advertising targeted at the agricultural sector;
- promotion of good health for farmers;
- publication of information sheets;
- roll out of the revised Code of Practice on farm safety;
- finalising an e-learning tool on tractor and machinery safety;
- focusing on child safety on farms through programmes at primary and post-primary school level, letters have already issued to over 3,000 such schools;
- engagement of all representative organisations and stakeholders in the challenge;
- increasing awareness of farm safety throughout the sector.
The funding allocations that the HSA makes for particular aspects of its annual programme of work, including farm safety initiatives, can fluctuate from year to year as the HSA decides how to prioritise its non-pay funding in order to implement its overall programme of work.
In 2017 the Health and Safety Authority has allocated a budget of €287,000 for farm safety prevention initiatives. These initiatives involved the development of further guidance and advice materials and the organisation of, participation in, or support of a wide range of agriculture related events such as the Farm Tractor & Machinery Trade Association, Assisting in Knowledge Transfer Group Facilitator Training, Head to Toe Mental Health Day, Farmer of the Year Awards, Farm Safety Months, (March/Livestock, May/Tractors& Machinery, November/Falls from Height & Falling Objects), Teagasc Dairy Event, the Tullamore Show and the National Ploughing Championships.
The totality of the work of the HSA in relation to farm safety is not confined to specific farm safety initiatives or inspections. In addition to such initiatives visits to farms by inspectors include routine unannounced inspections to monitor general safety & health standards and assess compliance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 and other health and safety regulations, and to investigate complaints, fatal and serious farm accidents. Typically in any one year there can be between 60 – 90 investigations on farms with the rest being unannounced inspections. In 2017 the HSA is carrying out three focused inspection campaigns each of one month duration. The first focused on “animal handling”, the second on working with “tractors & machinery” and the third on “working from heights & falling objects”.
The HSA approach of redirecting some of its inspection resources to engaging directly with farmers on other accident prevention initiatives has continued through 2016 & in 2017 particularly through the Knowledge Transfer Groups of which 98 have been attended & supported so far this year. Additionally all facilitators of knowledge transfer groups have now been trained in the essentials of occupational farm health and safety by Teagasc with the assistance of the HSA.
