Cavan Library Services is hosting a farm safety talk next week with a number of key speakers from the sector.
The event, in association with Teagasc and ESB Networks, takes place in Drumavaddy Hall, Cavan, Thursday 2nd March at 8.30pm.
Farm Accident Survivor, Galway dry stock farmer Peter Gohery will share his experiences from when he was severely injured and almost died, when he became entangled on an unguarded PTO shaft.
Arthur Byrne, Safety Manager, with ESB Networks will also speak on the night, highlighting that electricity is a powerful and versatile source of energy but can be dangerous unless we use it safely.
Even the most safety-conscious farmers can experience the effects of a serious injury and farming remains the most dangerous workplace in Ireland.
Working near overhead electricity wires and having an unsafe electrical installation are the main causes of electrical fatalities on farms.
Serious accidents can happen on farms when machinery comes too close to overhead electricity wires or electrical equipment becomes faulty.
The Heath and Safety Authority (HSA) has announced it intends to place a special emphasis safety inspections for the agriculture sector this year, with 2,000 farm inspections planned. However, this is down from a target of 2,300 announced last year.
The Authority has today published its ‘Programme of Work for 2017’ providing details of planned actions, priorities and inspection targets for the year
The Authority says there will be a continued emphasis on promoting safety on farms through participation in knowledge-sharing and discussion groups.
For more info on Thursday talk, click here.
