Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2019
260. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of non-fatal accidents in workplaces caused by animals, in particular non-fatal accidents on farms due to livestock in each of the years 2009 to 2018. [17518/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe reporting of accidents in the workplace which result in an absence and the prevention of an employee from performing their normal work for more than 3 consecutive days is a statutory requirement under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Reporting of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 370 of 2016). This applies to all workplaces regardless of size, enterprise or sector. The agriculture sector is predominately made up of self-employed and sole traders who unfortunately do not always report their accidents or injuries to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).
The HSA has reported that on average there are approximately 100 non-fatal accidents in the agriculture sector reported to them each year. Teagasc (the Agriculture and Food Development Authority) run the National Farm Survey, which routinely includes questions on occupational related accidents. This survey generally shows that there are between 2,500 and 3,000 serious non-fatal accidents on farms each year.
The agriculture sector data from the National Farm Surveys indicate that there has been a steady increase in the number of non-fatal accidents involving Livestock, rising from 23% of all non-fatal accidents in 1996 to approximately 43% in 2017. This increase in the proportion of accidents relating to livestock is largely in line with the expansion in the Agriculture Sector and the significant increases in livestock numbers particularly in the Dairy and Beef sector.
The graph at the link shows the results from the National Farm Survey for 1996, 2001, 2011 2017 regarding non-fatal accidents.
The HSA continues to focus on Livestock issues within agriculture and has developed an extensive suite of guidance materials as well as running extensive safety campaigns including livestock safety campaigns.
