The potential risks on Irish dairy farms during the summer months

It’s Farm Safety Week and on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast, Francis Bligh joins Emma-Louise Coffey to discuss the potential risks on Irish dairy farms during the summer months.

Francis points to autumn herds calving outdoors, 2nd cut silage, agitating and spreading slurry and children on the farm as some of the activities that present risk as well as day to day farming activities.

Francis recommends that farmers and farm staff take the opportunity to all aspects of the farm to consider potential risks to themselves and the wider public to make your farm a safer workplace.

He emphasises the importance for dairy farmers in taking ownership of their health and well-being by getting the basics of food, sleep and exercise and he encourages all farmers to go to the GP where there is any health concern and that all farmers should be scheduling some time off from the farm following a busy 6 months on farm to avoid burnout.

For more information check out Farm Safety Week

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: www.teagasc.ie/thedairyedge