Minister of State with special responsibility for Farm Safety at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon T.D., today launched Agri Aware’s new farm safety programme ‘Farm Safety First’ for Transition Year (TY) students.
The ‘Farm Safety First’ programme aims to highlight the challenges and dangers of farming, educate on safe farm practices and provide guidance to those in TY currently working on farms and those who hope to in the future.
In announcing support for this important farm safety initiative, Minister Heydon said: “I am determined to foster a culture of ‘Farm Safety First’ in every young person who lives or works on a farm. They will be the next generation of farmers and that is why I am delighted to be able to support this new programme aimed at transition year students. It is one of a series of initiatives aimed at primary and second level students which Agri Aware is delivering with the support of my Department.”
Designed specifically for TY students, this short course will cover a range of farm health and safety topics including personal safety and awareness, identifying hazards and understanding warning signs, staying safe around livestock, and best practices for working with machinery.
An accompanying eBook will be available to teachers upon registration. Additionally, Agri Aware are producing two safety videos to complement the learning material within the eBook to further reinforce the key messages this programme aims to deliver to TY students on farm health and safety.
Schools that participate in the programme and submit a project at the end will have a chance to win prizes of up to €800.
Speaking at the launch of the ‘Farm Safety First’ programme, Agri Aware Chairman Shay Galvin said: “Agri Aware is delighted to introduce the ‘Farm Safety First’ programme for TY students. It is particularly important for us at Agri Aware to continue tailoring programmes to address prevalent issues within our sector such as farm safety.
“Farm safety remains a significant challenge in agriculture. By targeting children at a young age across primary schools and now secondary schools and educating them about the potential dangers on farms, we hope that students will be safer and more cautious when it comes to their own wellbeing on farms.”
Minister Heydon concluded by saying: “The stark reality is one in ten fatal incidents on Irish farms involves children. By creating opportunities for students to learn about the hazards on farms and how to mitigate the risks, we equip young people with the tools to keep not only themselves but their families safe.”
