The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has announced the launch of a new €1.5 million National Farm Safety Measure 2023.
The measure will provide a financial contribution to participating farmers, covering 60% of the eligible cost of quad bike helmets and Power Take Off (PTO) shaft covers.
Over the past decade (2013 – 2022), there have been 10 farm fatalities involving quads, of which two were under 18 and six were over 65 years of age.
Farm vehicles and machinery account for over half of all fatalities on farms, and Entanglement in power take-off (PTO) shafts has caused fatalities and life-changing injuries on Irish farms.
Rates and application window
The maximum amount of aid under the measure is for two quad bike (ATV) helmets and four PTO shaft covers.
The grant aid will be at a rate of 60%, subject to a maximum eligible cost of €100 per PTO shaft cover and €150 per quad bike (ATV) helmet.
The Farm Safety Measure will be funded by the National Exchequer.
The measure will be open from June 21st, 2023, to September 29th, 2023, on AgFood.
According to the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for farm safety, Martin Heydon, this measure is designed to drive a change in behaviour and address unsafe practices such as operating a quad without a helmet or operating machinery with defective or missing PTO shaft covers.
New law
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 places a legal obligation on farmers to ensure that plant and machinery are safe and without risk to health.
From November 20th, 2023, as previously reported by www.thatsfarming.com, it will be mandatory for all operators of All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs /Quads) to undergo training and to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including a helmet when using such vehicles for work.
Read this farming news article to find out about the new quad safety measures.
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