FRS Farm Safety

The Importance of Farm Safety 

The Agriculture and Forestry industry is known for its high rates of fatalities and serious injuries. It ranks among one of the most dangerous professions in Ireland.

With 5% of the national workforce working in agriculture, this sector continues to have one of the poorest safety records in Ireland. In 2020, 23 farm workplace related deaths have occurred.

Being aware of farm safety and undertaking the necessary training can help farmers, farming families, farm visitors and farm workers stay safe.

FRS Farm Relief are dedicated to helping make Irish farms a safer place to work.

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FRS Farm Safety Tips & Resources

 

FRS Farm Safety Articles

Farm Safety Resouces

  • The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is the national body in Ireland with responsibility for occupational health and safety. With farming classified as a high-risk occupation, they have a full section on their website dedicated to Agriculture & Forestry. Click here to read. 
  • AgriAware is an Irish agri-food educational body funded by the Irish farming and agri-food industry. They have helpful information specifically tailored to children of all ages. Click here to read. 
  • Teagasc is known for providing research, advice and education in agriculture, horticulture, food and rural development in Ireland. They also have helpful information about farming and resources for children. 

FRS Training: Get Compliant 

FRS Training can help with all your agricultural training needs. 

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Stay Safe While Working With Animals

  • Always make sure handlers are competent and agile.
  • Work out an escape route or refuge in advance of working with cattle.
  • Watch for warning signs of animal aggressiveness, especially bulls and newly calved cows.
  • Do not stress or arouse cattle unnecessarily.
  • Keep ground surfaces clean, as far as possible.
  • Regularly check and maintain facilities such as the crush, gate latches and fences.

Stay Safe While Working With Machines

  • Make sure that the machine is in a safe operating condition. All guards and safety devices must be in place and functioning correctly.
  • When attaching a machine, take the correct position in order to avoid getting crushed.
  • All power take-off (PTO) drive shafts must be fully guarded by enclosing them along their full length from the tractor to the first bearing on the machine.
  • Do not carry passengers except when correct seating is provided. Never carry passengers on the tractor linkage or on the drawbar of the trailer.

 

Stay Safe While Driving

  •  Carry out daily checks on your tractor before you drive it to ensure everything is in working order.
  •  Always practice the Safe Stop procedure. 
  • Carry out the Safe Tractor Position Method. Use access steps and hand supports, adjust seat position to operate controls comfortably and adjust mirror for clear view.
  •  Always keep floors, doors, pedals clear and keep your boots clean. 
  • When in the tractor and carrying out work always make sure the terrain is free from hazards such as steep slopes, excavations and power lines.

Stay Safe At Slurry 

  • Evacuate all livestock and make sure no person or animal is in or near the building.
  • Never enter the slurry tank or any confined space unless you are wearing suitable breathing apparatus and/ or a harness attached to a lifeline controlled by at least two other adults positioned outside of the area.
  • Use outdoor agitation points where possible – one lung-full of slurry gas can kill. Evacuate and ventilate before you agitate
  • Never stand over slats or near tank access points when agitation is in progress.
  • Put up warning signs to warn of the dangers when working with slurry.

Keeping Children & Elderly Safe on the Farm

  • A farm is not a playground, children must be supervised at all times.
  • Older farmers/farm visitors should be aware that ageing affects mobility, eyesight and balance. 
  • Action should be taken to keep children/elderly away from dangerous areas. Use appropriate signage.
  • Always let the farmer know if you plan to visit the farm. 
  • Farm visitors should not be allowed near dangerous animals such as bulls, stallions, rams, stags and female animals with new-born young.

Farm & Farm Worker Health

  • Get regular health checks to monitor your general health and physical well-being. Do not ignore any pain/soreness.
  • Avoid trips and falls by keeping the farm yard tidy. 
  • Always let someone know what jobs you are going to do and how long you expect they will take. Always carry a fully charged mobile phone. 
  • It is important to recognise signs of stress and seek professional help. Contact FRS Farm Relief to help with farm aid. 
  • Get extra, experienced help during the busy periods of the year.

Farm Safety Videos

Farm Safety Images

Bull With Nose Chain

Broken PTO

Slurry Safety

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Correctly Covered Pit

WIN a €350 voucher social competition T&C’s 

By entering the promotion, entrants confirm that they have read and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions and all rules and guidelines applicable to the use of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Promoter: The Promoter is FRS Network, Dublin Rd, Derryvale, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary.

How to enter: A. To enter this promotion, entrants must follow FRS Network on the social channel they engaged with the competition (Facebook, Instagram (FRS Farm Relief) or Twitter), tag a friend in the comments on the relevant post, and share the post. B. Entrants must be IRE residents, aged 18 years or over. C. This promotion is not open to any employees of the Promoter. D. One entry allowed per person. Incomplete, illegible, misdirected or late entries will not be accepted.

Promotion Period: The promotion is open to entries from 11.00 GMT on 15th September 2021 until 23.59 GMT on 22nd September 2021.

Prize: The promoter is offering entrants the chance to win a FRS jacket, hat and book written by Peter Byrne reflecting 40 years of FRS. The prize is non-refundable, non-transferable and non-exchangeable and there is no cash alternative offered. 

The winner will be randomly selected from all valid entries received during the Promotion Period by the Promoters team. The winner will be contacted on 23rd September 2021 via the channel they entered with a message under their comment to provide the Promoter with their full name and address. If a winner declines a prize or fails to respond within the required period (48 hours), they forfeit any right to the prize. If a winner fails to respond within 48 hours, a redraw will take place from the remaining valid entries to select a new winner. A winner may be required to submit valid identification before receiving their prize.

Entrants agree to be bound by the decisions of the Promoter, which are final in all matters relating to the promotion. No correspondence will be entered into in respect of the Promoter’s decisions. In the event of unforeseen circumstances or circumstances outside its reasonable control, the Promoter reserves the right to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, this promotion without prior notice.

The Promoter does not accept responsibility for network, computer or software failures of any kind and has no responsibility for lost, delayed or misdirected entries. The Promoter does not accept any responsibility for any infringement of any third party intellectual property rights caused by entrants entering this promotion.

Subject to the winner’s rights under applicable data protection legislation, the Promoter shall be entitled to use and feature the name of the winner for publicity purposes and winners agree that they will participate in any reasonable publicity arranged by the Promoter or its agencies.

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