National tractor safety week

During this safety week, FBD is encouraging all farmers and contractors to take 10 minutes each day during the week to walk around their vehicles, check the basics, review any risks in the yard, and talk through tasks with anyone helping on the farm. Small steps, done consistently, reduce the chances of a serious accident. If something looks unsafe, fix it or stop the job until it can be made safe. Your actions this week could prevent a tragedy later in the year.
Tractors remain the main cause of fatal injuries on Irish farms. The Health and Safety Authority’s Review of work-related deaths in agriculture in Ireland between 2016-2025 shows that 41 per cent of fatal farm accidents involved vehicles. Of these 73 deaths, 52 per cent involved tractors, 18 per cent involved quad bikes, 10 per cent were caused by loaders or telehandlers, 7 per cent involved trailers, and 5 per cent were attributed to excavators. The figures highlight the need to keep vehicles in good condition and ensure that only competent and experienced operators use them.
Ciaran Roche, risk manager at FBD, said: “Behind every fatal statistic is a family and a community coping with a grave loss. Most fatal tractor incidents come down to basic issues that can be prevented with a bit more time, care, and attention. Maintaining brakes, driving at a safe speed, making sure only competent people operate vehicles and keeping children away from tractors and machinery can save lives.”
Farmers rely on tractors and machinery every day, which can make risks easy to overlook. Most accidents stem from four areas:

1. The operator – errors, inexperience, rushing, speed, fatigue, or distraction.
2. Environmental conditions – steep gradients, poor visibility, or weather.
3. The vehicle – poor mechanical condition, especially faulty brakes.
4. Systems of work – not following safe operating procedures or ignoring warnings.

Nearly all fatal tractor accidents can be prevented by following simple steps such as: only allowing competent operators drive a tractor; always driving at a safe speed; avoiding rushing; parking safely; taking adequate breaks to avoid fatigue; keeping tractors well maintained; and keeping children away from moving vehicles and trailed implements.

Tractor Safety Week themes

Each day of the campaign focusses on a specific issue:

1. Maintenance and the tidy tractor
Emphasising the basics such as working brakes, good tyres, clean windows, effective lighting, and a tidy cab to prevent object from getting caught under foot controls.

2. Safe operation
Promoting competent drivers, safe speeds, full concentration free of distraction such as the mobile phone, and safe operating procedures when operating tractors such as reverse parking.

3. Blind spots
Raising awareness of visibility risks around tractors and attachments, especially during yard work and manoeuvring. Due to size of tractors and trailed implements, good vision can often be significantly reduced.

4. Older farmers and young people
Highlighting risks for both groups. Older farmers may face reduced mobility or slower reaction times; younger people may lack experience and a full understanding of the associated risk. With this in mind, it is essential that young children are supervised and kept away from areas where tractors are operating. Young persons must be trained in the safe operation of tractors and must comply with the legal driving age requirements.

5. Fatigue
Focusing on tiredness as a major factor in farm accidents, particularly during harvest and peak seasons when long hours are common. Operators must take adequate breaks during operation, stay hydrated and practice good nutrition and sleeping habits to help avoid fatigue.

Child safety

Tractors and vehicles account for most fatal accidents involving children on farms. Children must be supervised at all times and kept away from areas where machinery is operating. The Code of practice on preventing accidents to children and young persons in agriculture states: 

• Children under seven must not ride on tractors.
• Children over seven may only ride on a tractor with a properly fitted passenger seat and seatbelt inside a safety cab or frame. 
• Children under 14 must not drive or operate tractors or self-propelled machines.
• Young people over 14 may only operate tractors after proper training and close supervision. 
• Anyone driving on a public road must be at least 16 and hold the correct licence.

Think tractor safety first; don’t put yourself or others at risk.