Farm Health & Safety
Welcome
Welcome to the Teagasc farm health and safety section. We aim to assist farm family members and those working on farms to minimise the risk of injury and to promote health. Teagasc works with other organisations including the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and member organisations of the HSA Farm Safety Partnership Advisory committee to deliver an effective health and safety service.
Health & Safety is relevant to all farming businesses. As a farmer you are responsible for the health, safety and welfare of yourself, employees and others that may be affected by what you do. This includes contractors, casual or part time workers, trainees, neighbours, and family members. In these dedicated Health & Safety web pages we aim to support you in ensuring that your farm is safe, healthy, and legally compliant.
Teagasc want you to work in a safe working environment to maximise your income and ensure a quality of life for you and your family.
Farm Safety Week 2021 - Rethink Safety
Get more information here Farm Safety Week
Jessy's Smart Kids
Summer 2021
Jessy's Smart Kids is a fun easily downloadable kids farm safety newsletter. The Summer 2021 edition of Jessy's Smart Kids includes: Farm Family Safety; Blind Spots; First Aid Kit and Farmer Wellbeing.
Jessy Smart Kids - Summer 2021 (PDF)
Improving Farm Health and Safety using NUDGE Theory
When making decisions, most people have biases and take short cuts which often leads to poor decision making. Nudge theory is based on behavioural economics and psychology and assists people to make more rational and better decisions.
The application of NUDGE theory to promote farm safety is being investigated by the New York Centre for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH). Watch video below for more information
Read about Richard Thaler’s behavioural economics revealing that people decide with emotion not logic Irish Times article October 2017 (PDF)
Positive Mental Health in Farming
Managing your health and safety needs to be considered as an overall component of farm management. This means both identifying and implementing key actions to maintain both safety and health.
(PDF)
Publications
- On Feirm Ground = Wellbeing for farmers
- Farm Workshop Safety - Guidelines & checklist
- Coping with the Pressures of Farming
- Farm Safety Poster - A to Z of Farm Safety
- Preliminary NFS Farm Safety Survey (PDF)
- Farmers Have Hearts: Cardiovascular Health Programme
Useful websites
Media Contact
John McNamara - Health and Safety Specialist
