In my last blog I mentioned how the fine weather will bring many machines out and about to work the land carrying out spring cultivations. This will, no doubt, bring extra hidden dangers. With all these machines operating it will be important for all operators to keep safety to the forefront. Dealers should take responsibility in highlighting the safe operation of tractors and equipment to their customers. We are all familiar with the usual suspects – unguarded PTO shafts and drive belts.
Figures published earlier this year from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) showed that deaths relating to vehicles was the number one cause of work related fatalities in 2024. The figures showed that there was a total of 33 work related deaths with 10 of these arising from vehicles.
There were 12 accidental deaths on farms in 2024 which accounted for over a third of all workplace-related deaths that year, despite the agricultural sector accounting for only 4% of the working population. However, the good news is that work related deaths are on the decrease with eight fewer deaths on farms in 2024 compared with 2023.
Many of the operating manuals for farm and garden equipment are now available to view online as pdf files. This is viewed as a step in the right direction as it saves a lot of unnecessary paper printing, which, of course, is good for the environment. However, the downside of this is that many people, especially within the older generation category, may not bother to read these manuals, which also includes the safety procedures to operate these machines.
Having said that the HSA has a very useful online guide called Guidance on the Safe Use of Tractors and Machinery on Farms. This 108 page guide was published in 2015 and is intended for all those who use tractors and farm equipment. The guide can be downloaded by visiting here. Go to publications and forms and then agriculture.
It’s not just our customers that should work with machines safely. The dealers’ workshops should also be safe environments to work in. They should be tidy and free of obstacles that would cause trips or falls. There should be a safety statement on site which must be updated every year, noting any accidents and near misses, no matter how small. All employers, including the self-employed, must have a safety statement relating to their workplace and work activities. Each member of staff should have easy access to the safety statement which should be written in a manner that is easily understood.
Teagasc have a useful guide called Safety in the Farm Workshop (2020). Even though it is aimed at farmers, the information inside applies just as much to the dealer workshop. This guide is also available online and can be downloaded by visiting here.
I ask that you make your customers aware of the dangers associated with the machines you sell them. If you don’t have a hard copy of the safety manuals to hand out, then you should encourage them to read them online. Let’s play our part in avoiding machinery related deaths.
