National Seminar on Improving Occupational Health among Farmers in Ireland
10 August 2012
Teagasc, in association with the Health and
Safety Authority and University College Dublin, will hold a
National Seminar on improving occupational health among farmers
in Ireland. The event will take place in the Clanard Court
Hotel, Athy, Co Kildare on the morning of Tuesday, 21 August
followed in the afternoon by a seminar on Positive Mental Health
of Farmers.
At the seminar, Ms Aoife Osborne, Teagasc Walsh Fellow, will
reveal the findings of her 4-year research study on farmer
occupational health. Ms Osborne will deal particularly with
Musculoskeletal Disorders, or diseases of the skeletal and
muscular systems, which are increasingly a major source of
disability and incapacitation among farmers in Ireland and
worldwide. One international study, for instance, estimates that
farmers are one of the main users of hip replacements with 20
per cent of farmers requiring one in their lifetime.
Further presentations on occupational health of farmers will be
provided by physiotherapists Dr Catherine Blake and Dr Caitriona
Cunningham of the School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and
Performance Science at UCD.
Mr Patrick Griffin, Senior Inspector with the Health and Safety
Authority (H.S.A.) will outline a risk assessment approach to
preventing occupational ill health, while Mr John McNamara,
Teagasc Health and Safety Officer, will outline the Teagasc
programme in occupational health.
In the afternoon at 2.15 pm, a seminar on Positive Mental Health
of Farmers will be held. Speakers will include Dr Anne Cleary,
Department of Sociology at UCD who will outline the findings of
a study of suicidal behaviour among men in rural areas, which is
aimed at prevention. Ms Finola Colgan of Mental Health Ireland
will speak on the topic of Positively Influencing Mental Health.
The two seminars take place at the Clanard Hotel, Athy, Co
Kildare on Tuesday 21 August, commencing at 10am and 2.15pm.
Both seminars are free of charge but booking is requested to
Teagasc Naas (045-879203).