Farmers seven times more likely to have a workplace accident Tullamore Show event told

Farmers are seven times more likely to have a workplace accident than the two million other workers in Ireland the official opening of a major event at Tullamore Show and the FBD National Livestock Show was told this morning.

Minister with responsibility for farm safety, Martin Heydon said farm safety should be at the heart of everything that farmers do.

Speaking at the launch of Farm Safety Live, the Minister – the first ever to have special responsibility for farm safety – stressed: “Farm safety needs to be the first thought every day and not an after thought.”

Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, who performed the official opening, acknowledged it was a challenging year for farmers but stressed that the focus always needed to be maintained on safety.

He paid tribute to Tullamore Show and the organisers of the event, FRS, the Health and Safety Authority and FBD.

A series of quad bike demonstrations and lectures on livestock and machinery safety are now taking place at the stand n the showgrounds

The opening heard the Government has introduced special grants for PTO shafts and quad bike helmets.

It was also revealed that the majority of the last 12 people killed in quad bike accidents died from head injuries.