Family farm health and safety awareness day at Macroom Mart

TEAGASC Cork West will hold a Farm Health & Safety Awareness Event on Wednesday, 20th November at 2.30pm at Macroom Mart.

In welcoming farmers to attend, Teagasc Drystock advisor Anthony Dineen, Macroom said that the Health & Safety event is planned to highlight key practical issues which will help to prevent fatal and serious accidents on farms in the region.

The Health and Safety event takes place against the background of an increasing trend in farm deaths during 2019. Up until the end of October, this year, there have been 16 deaths on Irish farms, compared with a total of 15 on-farm deaths during all of 2018. Sadly, a number of these have been Cork.

This Event will focus on the following farm safety issues:

• New regulations and licencing laws applying to the road use of tractors, trailers and implements. Farm machinery is one of the main contributors to both fatal and non-fatal, farm accidents. The dangers associated with tractors, the visibility of tractors and people being knocked down or crushed, and around, farmyards will be demonstrated at this event.

• Risks associated in handling livestock. A lot of handling of cattle takes place at this time of the year and adequate facilities are needed to handle cattle safely.

• Health & Safety Authority (HSA) staff will be present to describe how to avoid accidents when working at heights, and safety with slurry.

• Teagasc staff will present practical aspects when using chainsaws and the correct protective wear to use.

• The event will have representatives present from the HSA, Teagasc Cork West, An Garda Síochána, FBD and West Cork Development Partnership.