A change of mindset is needed among farmers to improve safety, an international conference on occupational health and safety in agriculture has been told. The conference, held in Dublin and organised by the Health and Safety Authority and Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority in Ireland, was attended by delegates from the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Italy, Finland, Germany and the United States of America.

Attendees were told that across Europe there were 567 fatalities on farms last year and in Ireland alone there were 26 fatalities in 2010, with a further 16 deaths to date this year. The majority of Irish accidents happened to older people as, on most farms, there are still three generations working.

The causes of accidents remained the same across all the countries present, with most being the result of contact with farm machinery or livestock. Presentations were given on a range of topics, with an emphasis on animal husbandry, after a Swedish study showed livestock related injuries were the most costly.

Presentations were also given on how different countries are facing up to the high rate of injuries in agriculture, raising the awareness of safety and improving training. In Norway, 10,000 farmers have been through an e-learning safety program, with 57 per cent feeling the course has helped them to work more safely. To reduce accidents among foreign workers in Denmark, a website has also been developed to highlight farm dangers to workers in their first language.

Representative also took great interest in the UK campaigns - the Health and Safety Executive’s “Make the Promise” and work of the industry-led Farm Safety Partnership.

The NFU, who attended the conference, said it had helped establish a network to share information and highlighted the array of good work and research which is ongoing in Europe and beyond. However, the real challenge lies in translating research findings into practical recommendations and making farmers aware of the information.