Ageing tractor fleet a factor in farm fatalities, warns HSA

Number of 40-year-old tractors almost on a par with new registrations for 2019

ALMOST 40pc of the tractors in use on farms are over 20 years old, and these ageing machines may be a factor in the high level of deaths among elderly farmers, safety experts have warned.

Department of Transport figures show that of the 75,863 tractors taxed last year, 29,974 (40pc) were manufactured before 1999. This compares to 18,615 (24pc) tractors that are less than 10 years old.

With the data only based on taxed vehicles, the actual age profile of tractors used on Irish farms is likely to be much older.

The figures on taxed tractors show that there were almost as many 40-year-old tractors in operation as there were new tractors registered last year 1,771 versus 1,807.

Defunct tractor brands remain common across the country. These include Renault (801), International (497), Leyland (54) and Universal (47).

There are question marks over the condition and safety of many older machines. Last month the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) began an intensive farm inspection campaign with a focus on the safe use of tractors and machinery.

Farm deaths

Tractors, farm vehicles and machinery account for the highest proportion of farm deaths 104 deaths in the 10 years between 2010 and 2019, representing 50pc of the total. Those at greatest risk from serious and fatal injury from farm vehicles are children, young people and the elderly.

The HSA say the key requirement with tractors, farm vehicles and machinery is to ensure that they are properly maintained, particularly their brakes (including hand-brakes), steering systems, cabs and doors.

“Even where there is a choice of operating a new tractor or an old tractor, elderly farmers tend to gravitate to the older tractor which they may have purchased many years ago and are more comfortable operating,” a HSA spokesperson told the Farming Independent.

“This may lead to a disproportionate number of elderly deaths with older tractors. The older tractor may have poor brakes, problems with steering, various mechanical issues and defective door handles, all of which may lead to serious or fatal injury.”

However, the HSA highlight that newer tractors are significantly larger in size, operate at greater speeds and have immense power. Some of these characteristics increase the risk of injury to operators and people close by.