Investigation After Man Killed In Waterford Tractor Accident

Gardaí in Co. Waterford are investigating after a man in his 60s was killed after the tractor he was driving went off the road and hit a ditch. 

The incident happened yesterday morning near Dunhill. There was no other vehicle involved. According to Independent.ie , the man has been named locally as James Keane.

The news comes as the Economic and Research Institute has confirmed that farming is the most dangerous occupation in Ireland. 

A new report found that it was the job with the highest risk of fatalities in Ireland, with a rate nearly ten times the average across occupations between 2009 and 2015.  

The survey examined 800 male, self-employed farmers and found that the most common risks taken were a failure to do the following:

• Getting help with difficult jobs (27%);
• Using safety gear, such as goggles, ear defenders, high-viz. vests (26%);
• Using power take-off (PTO) or machinery guards (12%);
• Checking that machinery is in good working order before use (11%);
• Using restraining or handling facilities when treating animals (8%);
• Keeping chemicals stored away from access by children (3%).

According to  Dorothy Watson, one of the authors of the report:

“Farm safety is a critical issue. In the last seven years, 138 people have been killed in farm accidents, making farming the most dangerous occupation in terms of fatalities. The results of this report highlight the significance of getting help with difficult jobs and checking machinery in reducing the risk of accidents in farming. Future policies should emphasise the importance of getting help with difficult tasks on the farm, as the research indicated that failing to do so is associated with a higher risk of accidents and near misses.”