Dáil debates

Thursday, 13 May 2004

4:00 pm

Photo of Jim O'KeeffeJim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 11: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of deaths and serious accidents in the past three years from the use of tractors and farm machinery; and if she has further proposals on safety. [9070/04]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, the Health and Safety Authority is the State body charged with overall responsibility for the administration, enforcement and promotion of workplace safety and health.

The breakdown of the number of deaths from the use of tractors and farm machinery is as follows:

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 (provisional)
Machinery-related 4 6 1 2 2
Tractor-related 6 0 11 3 6

There is no specific data available on the level of non-fatal accidents in the sector from the use of tractors and farm machinery. The Health and Safety Authority set up a farm safety action group in February 2002. Its terms of reference include "the development of a national action programme, co-ordinating the actions of the representative organisations and assigning tasks". In April 2003, the group published the Farm Safety Plan 2003-2007. This plan sets specific targets against a base year of 2001, including a reduction by 50% in farm fatalities with no child fatalities, a reduction in the farm accident rate to less than 1,600 per annum and an increase to 50% of farmers complying with health and safety legislation.

The plan recognises the need for a range of activities to achieve these targets and has adopted an approach based on engineering controls, enforcement, and education and training. Central to the success of the plan is the development of a "safety partnership" between all of the interested parties to develop and co-ordinate the approach contained in the plan and for the parties to have given a written commitment to their contribution to the implementation of the plan. The Health and Safety Authority, as part of its commitment, is to undertake a minimum of 1,000 farm inspections in 2004, with appropriate enforcement action and follow up inspections being taken where necessary.

Following the publication of the plan, the Health and Safety Authority has established the farm safety action group as a standing committee of the board of the authority and the farm safety partnership advisory committee to ensure that the plan is progressed and kept under review.

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the work of the Health and Safety Authority. I agree fully with the Tánaiste that the increased vigilance and inspection rates on farms can only help to avoid further serious and fatal accidents. In the past ten years, 43 children have died on farms, which is a frightening figure. Comparing the statistics in construction to those in agriculture, agriculture is a more dangerous sector. What further steps can we take to improve safety? The current television advertisements are effective and are helping to make people aware of the hazards that exist, particularly for young children.

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As someone who grew up on a farm, I know farmers take enormous risks with young children. Part of the problem arises because the residence and the workplace are together and children are close by. Inspections and enforcement are crucial roles for the State, but education and awareness are also vital. Often people take chances with children that they do not think about and, as a result, we have seen so many tragedies that could have been avoided.

There should also be more emphasis on health and safety clothing and equipment. People go out on tractors without head gear and do not wear protective clothing while using chemicals and other dangerous substances. The farming community must be involved to a greater extent in an awareness and education programme and that is what the Health and Safety Authority is trying to achieve. It is involved in the stick approach of enforcement and the carrot approach of encouraging people to change their behaviour.

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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While I welcome the advertising campaign and its positive impact, does the Tánaiste accept that the Health and Safety Authority is already stretched when it comes to providing staff for on-site inspections in the construction sector, much less on every farm in the State? Does she see a role for the local authorities in this area? Could building regulations have a role, with a separation in planning terms between areas of a farm for industrial uses and the accommodation uses? Does she accept that many of the accidents that occur involve visitors who are less aware of the dangers? There should be physical barriers to ensure inexperienced visitors are protected.

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The separation of building controls is worthy of consideration for new dwellings on farms. Many of the accidents occur on existing farms and many farmers are earning low levels of remuneration for their activities and we do not want to involve them in increased expenses. If people are cautious and aware of the dangers, it will go a long way towards minimising the risk. I agree with Deputy Howlin — many of the accidents on farms involve relatives or visitors and the onus is on the owner of the property or the driver of the tractor to do everything possible to keep young children away from farming activities and machinery.