Money Available For Farmers in Safety Drive
IRELAND - A new set of grant assisted health and safety recommendations is being rolled out across Ireland’s farms.
16 October 2014
2 minute read
The new Farm Safety Scheme will offer up to 40 per cent grant rates to a maximum level of €20,000, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney announced yesterday.
The funds, taken from the old 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme, will assist in upgrading safety standards through a series of eligible fixtures and fittings for the farm.
The Minister said that nothing is of a higher priority than a loved one’s life, adding that ministers were ‘acutely aware’ of the high level risk in the farming occupation.
He added: “It is in all our interests and responsibility to raise the level of safety on our farms. It might just be the best investment ever carried out”.
The announcement was welcomed by Health and Safety Authority chief executive Martin O’Halleron, adding that farmers should take the opportunity to deal with safety.
He said: “He issues identified, if not attended to, could pose a serious danger to farmers own or someone else’s safety or health.
“Farms are potentially dangerous workplaces and anything that helps minimise the danger and lessens the chances of a serious or fatal accident is an important step towards reducing the current unacceptably high levels of death and injury on farms.”
Grant-aid is available for the following:
• Safety Rails on Silo Walls
• Safety Fencing for external slurry and effluent stores (including gate)
• Solid Cover for External Slurry and Effluent Stores
• Safety Covers on External Agitation Points or Manholes
• Replacement of damaged slats (single/twin/gang) or replacement of existing internal agitation point with new gang slats
• Replacement of hinged door/sheeted gate with a sliding door on agricultural buildings
• Removal of end wall of tank and provision of external agitation point
• Wiring/Rewiring of existing farm buildings
• Yard Lights (min 200W equivalent, either metal halide or LED)
• Retrofitting roof clear-sheet (roof light) with safety cages
• Circulation pipe (6") to allow for agitation of slurry
• Installation of calving gates
• Simple aeration systems
• Mobile Cattle Crush Unit (min 2.4m long)
• Mobile cattle penning max of 75 linear metres (in combination with a Cattle Handling unit)
• Mobile cattle weighing scales
• Leg hoist/ lifter
• Head Scoop
• Mobile specialised Sheep spraying equipment (with or without trailer)
• Portable Sheep Handling Race with wheels (including footbath)
• Portable Basic Sheep Handling Race
• Mobile Sheep Weighing Facilities
• Mobile Sheep Rollover Crates
• Mobile Sheep "Batch" Footbaths
• Mobile Sheep penning max of 75 linear metres (in combination with a Sheep Handling Race)
• Mobile Sheep Adoption Unit Front
• Mobile Sheep Adoption Unit Front with penning
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