Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 July 2021
137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons who died or were injured in farm accidents in each of the past five years to date; the actions taken and or pending to address farm safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38955/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAgriculture is among the priority sectors identified by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) in its current strategy. This sector, therefore, receives a sustained focus in the delivery of the HSA’s occupational health and safety policy and inspection programmes.
The HSA investigates every farm fatality. The findings from these investigations inform and focus future farm safety promotion, prevention and inspection campaign initiatives.
In the five year period from 2016 to 2020, there have been 100 farming fatalities. To date in 2021, three fatal incidents have occurred in this sector. Table 1 details the breakdown of the number of fatalities for each of the years requested.
The HSA collects data on incidents at work in compliance with the Framework Directive 89/391/EEC (1) on measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work. There can be considerable underreporting of work-related incidents, with smaller enterprises and self-employed people less likely to report incidents than larger enterprises. As self-employment is common in the agricultural sector, underreporting of non-fatal work-related incidents is likely. Table 2 details the breakdown of the number of non-fatal injuries for each of the years requested.
The latest available data (2019) from the Central Statistics Office’s special module on work-related injuries and illnesses, which is collected as part of the Labour Force Survey, indicates that the rate of work-related injuries leading to four or more days of absence from work in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing sector in 2019 was 10.7 per 1,000 workers. In comparison, the five-year average rate for 2015–2019 was 13.1.
The HSA is undertaking a number of specific programmes and campaigns to target specific risks within the farming sector which include the provision of guidance, e-tools, online testimonials, and targeted awareness campaigns.
The HSA have a long-standing Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee which is chaired by a Board member of the Authority and involves key stakeholders in addressing the health and safety concerns within the agriculture sector. The Committee's Action Plan for 2021 to 2024 will be published shortly and will focus on identified high risk activities such as tractor and vehicle use, livestock handling and working at height. This plan will also seek to improve farmer skill levels in the areas of risk identification and management.
The HSA provides an online farm risk assessment tool, farmsafely.com, which recorded 13,227 active registered users in 2020. Later this month, the HSA will roll out a proactive inspection programme to coincide with Farm Safety Week (19-23 July) which is an annual event led by the Farm Safety Foundation and takes place across the UK and in the Republic of Ireland.
Table 1
|
Farm Fatalities 2016 – 2020 |
||||
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
21 |
25 |
15 |
19 |
20 |
Table 2
|
Non-Fatal Injuries (Farming) Reported to the Authority |
||||
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
74 |
123 |
98 |
91 |
121 |
