FORUM Connemara’s Farm Health & Safety initiative was a European innovation Partnership (EIP).
The scheme was funded by the Department of Agriculture through the Rural Development plan 2014-2020.
FORUM Connemara Farm Health & Safety initiative
The FORUM Connemara Farm Health & Safety initiative, led by Sinéad Grimes, aimed to promote and enhance on-farm health and safety at a local level on farms across North West Connemara. By the time the scheme ended in June 2023 we were working with just over 200 farmers across North West Connemara.
The purpose of this programme was to foster better communications and facilitate information-sharing, training and knowledge distribution among farming families with the overall goal of improving current levels of health and safety on the farm as well as the quality of co-operation between all stakeholders who have a shared interest in improving the health & safety of our local farming community.
The initiative will promote methods for improving both the physical and mental health of the farmers and their family members in the area, as well as addressing the overall safety on the farm in practical, low cost and easily implementable measures.
Program Content
The following objectives were met by FORUM Connemara during the 18-month programme:
1. Increase Knowledge – We will deliver a specially tailored Connemara Farming Health & Safety (CF-HANDS) Training Programme.
2. Increase Awareness - We will deliver a pilot Farming Health, Safety and Wellbeing Radio show to also include a Social Media campaign.
See our Facebook page at https://m.facebook.com/FORUMConnemaraFarmHS/ and our Website at www.forum-farming.com
3. Share Information –
i. Public presence at marts and shows to host Health, Safety & Wellbeing stalls providing information & advocacy.
ii. Schools Liaison regarding Farming Health, Safety & Wellbeing.
4. Improve Safety - Creation of Connemara Farm Health & Safety packs to include first aid kits and safety gear as well as Risk Assessments and Farm Safety Action Plans.
5. Be Innovative - Highlight and pilot new innovations and new technology to help the Connemara farmer farm safer.
The need for the project
Accidents and fatalities on farms are a continuing cause of concern for the farming community in Ireland. Adding to these worries for farmers in North West Connemara is the isolated nature and rugged terrain of most of the farm land in the region where mobile phone cover can also be an issue.
Many farmers in this area live alone, work alone and are often miles from medical help. These factors make the basic health and safety precautions for working on a farm more important than ever for these members of the farming community.
FORUM Connemara’s Farm Health & Safety initiative promoted methods for improving both the physical and mental health of the farmers and their family members in the area, as well as addressing the overall safety on the farm in practical, low cost and easily implementable measures.
The operational group shared information and data gathered with farmers in the target areas, at ‘walk-ins’ at marts and agricultural shows as well as schools, local community groups and other interested parties.
We aimed to achieve this by highlighting the importance of proactive safety checks, ensuring compliance with legal as well as insurance requirements, implementing best farming practices, and positively impacting the mental and physical health of the farming community in Connemara.