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Woman (60s) dies on Laois farm

A woman (60s) has died following an accident on a farm in Co Laois.

The fatal workplace accident took place in the Portlaoise area of the county on Monday, January 31st, 2022.

In a statement to That’s Farming on Tuesday, February 1st, 2022, a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said:

“Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of a fatal workplace accident that occurred at a farm in the Portlaoise area of County Laois on the evening of Monday, January 31st, 2022.”

“A woman in her 60s was fatally injured during this incident and pronounced dead at the scene. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) have been notified,” the spokesperson added.

9 farming fatalities in 2021

According to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Damien English, the HSA recorded nine farming fatalities in 2021.

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The HSA (Health and Safety Authority) was notified of 20 such fatalities the previous year.

The minister said that despite farming fatalities declining by over 50% in this period, the sector remains one of the “most dangerous” to work in, in Ireland.

Furthermore, the HSA is aware of 113 accidents in agriculture in 2021.

Minister English highlighted that there is a “significant” underreporting of non-fatal work-related incidents in agriculture as most are self-employed sole traders.

The minister provided the above information in response to a parliamentary question from the Social Democrat’s Holly Cairns.

Calving safety inspection campaign

Meanwhile, the Health and Safety Authority is carrying out a two-week “intensive” farm safety inspection campaign from Monday, January 24th, 2022.

It focuses on the safe management of livestock during calving season when the risk of injury to farmers increases “significantly”.

Over the last decade, 196 people have lost their lives in farming-related work activity in Ireland.

Of these fatalities, 38 involved livestock. In 2021 alone, working with cattle accounted for 3 fatalities.

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