The Health and Safety Authority has announced that it is to carry out a ‘Farm Safety Survey’. The survey will aim to identify the way in which farmers work and any underlying factors behind unsafe practices, in a bid to better understand the industry and make tailored recommendations which will have real results in developing farm safety policy.

HSAI said its investigation would focus on "how best to make farms safer places to work and live." Survey questionnaires were posted out to over 3,000, randomly selected farm households last week in a bid to gather information. The survey was designed by Agricultural sector experts and adapted following interviews with farmers at a number of marts around the country earlier this year, HSAI said. The Authority said surveys must be returned by the end of the month.

As is the case in the UK, figures from Ireland show agriculture is the most dangerous industry in the country. In Ireland, farming accounts for almost half of all workplace fatalities (45 percent in 2012).

However, although the industry has an inordinately high rate of accidents and fatalities, HSAI is adamant that "many of the dangers can be reduced by means of prevention." The authority said, "Demographic, environmental and behavioural risk factors in farming can cause farming hazards to lead to injury, illness or death," which is why it is seeking to look at the root causes behind these hazards, in order to tackle unsafe practices.

Patricia Murray, an Occupational Psychologist and Health and Safety Authority Inspector is steering the project. She commented, "It is important to stress that this survey is not about blame or identifying wrong. It is entirely confidential and there will be no follow-up contact. We believe that the information provided will prove very useful in supporting and informing the Authority's role in promoting the benefits of improved health and safety compliance/performance for farmers."