23/06/09

Further steps must be taken by the Department of Agriculture to improve farm safety and reduce the risk of on farm deaths, according to Labour's Sean Sherlock.

The call follows today's publication of the 2008 annual report by the Health & Safety Authority which highlights the fact that over a third of work related deaths occurred in agriculture last year.

Deputy Sherlock said: "I raised this issue with the Minister for Agriculture in February after it emerged that 21 people lost their lives last year on farms compared to 10 in 2007 although agriculture employs just six per cent of the workforce. This would seem to indicate that something has gone seriously wrong somewhere when it comes to farm safety inspections.

 

"It is vital that Minister Brendan Smith now reaffirms any commitments he has made with regard to the implementation of the new Farm Safety Action Plan 2009 - 2012 and that he introduces measures that will make a real change.

 

"It will take far more than an additional link on the Department website or the issuing of ‘timely' press releases as is proposed if we are to see any real change. We also need a timeframe for the goals and actions that are set out in this plan before further lives are lost.

 

"We have to raise national awareness about farm safety. I have seen no progress on this issue since raising it with the Minister earlier this year. As far as I am concerned the Department is doing nowhere near far enough to tackle this issue."

 

 

 

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