Farm Safety Week As most farmers will be aware, Ireland's official Farm Safety Week took place a couple of weeks ago. The aims of the events that took place during the week were to raise safety awareness, share positive stories about farm safety, challenge prevailing attitudes on farm safety and encourage farmers to look after their own physical and mental health.
It need hardly be said that all of these are admirable objectives. Farming is a hazardous occupation in more ways than one. If the week's promotional events help to save even a single life on Irish farms, they will have been worthwhile.
A Dangerous Occupation All Year Round
That being said, we must be careful that we do not allow Farm Safety Week to become another piece of sloganeering. We should not forget that the careful observation of farm safety practices is required all year round, and not just during the one week in July that reminds us why it is important. Farming is a dangerous occupation in all seasons, and even a single oversight can (and does) result in fatalities. Caution and vigilance are required day in and day out, from the moment we slip into our wellies in the morning until the moment we slide out of them in the evening.
This is why I chose to write this article almost a fortnight after Farm Safety Week ended - as a reminder that all precautions must continue to be taken long after the hype of the promotional events are over.
Not More Preaching
Now, I understand that farmers may be tired of being preached to on this issue. And believe me, I can understand any frustration you may be feeling. It feels like the agricultural community is constantly under fire nowadays. But in the case of farm safety, the annual numbers of serious accidents and fatalities suggest that constant reminders are needed.
Contrary to what some may believe, observing good safety practices does not mean we must leave important tasks unfinished simply because they come with a level of risk. Far from it. It means only that when carrying out hazardous works on the farm, we should take every reasonable step to reduce the chances of a serious accident occurring.
Key Steps for Safe Farming
Among the important actions that we should take, the following are essential and will help to save lives on farms across the country:
- Compose a farm safety statement and ensure that every person who works on the farm has read it and fully understands its contents
- Always keep the PTO and PTO shaft covered, and ensure that the PTO is disengaged before getting off your tractor
- Never allow anyone under the age of 14 to drive a tractor, and make sure that everyone who drives a tractor on the farm is competent and has received adequate prior training from an experienced driver
- Only use proper handling facilities when handling animals
- Ensure that you have a safe and secure play area for small children close to your house
- Ensure that small children are never left unattended on the farm and cannot approach farm machinery
