Poor safety in the Countryside

The T&G general union's agricultural conference last month highlighted the scandal of poor safety in the countryside.

The conference was told of massive under-reporting of accidents which, according to the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), could be running as high as 80%.

The union is calling for a much stronger legislative framework for agriculture starting with a five-point plan for developing a countryside safety culture.

This calls for:

- an increase in the number of HSE safety inspectors; - roving trade union reps to be given statutory recognition under the Health and Safety at Work Act; - an increase in the minimum age for tractor driving from 13 to 16; - the introduction of a minimum age of 18 years for the handling and application of chemicals on farms as well as making the chemical industry responsible for the collection, disposal and recycling of empty spray and chemical containers; and - a national public awareness campaign on farm safety to target the issue of under-reporting.