Farm safety article on Agriland

20silkcut

Did anyone see this opinion piece where a get tough approach was advocated.
The author advocated a big stick approach similar to the construction industry. It goes without saying that I abhor the toll of farm deaths that seems to be increasing but I really take exception to advocating another big stick to beat us with.
I would rather see the big stick applied to big corporations who suck all the wealth out of farming leaving us totally dependent on miserable handouts every October. Cutting corners on issues like safety to control our costs. Having to depend on our parents to go out and check cattle cause we have to go off farm and work. Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could hire employees and send them on safe pass courses like in construction.
Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could fold our tent and disappear when times get tough like construction companies.
Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could afford modern safe farm machinery and not have to browse done deal looking for second hand stuff.
If we could afford to have our farm yards built to the highest safety standards.
Big difference between enforcing safety on multi million pound construction sites and a farm struggling to get by with low prices.
The first step is to take the big stick to industrial and governmental sectors and give us an industry where we can afford to work safely and have fully trained employees in a safe working environment.

Of course that won't happen it will be beat the farmer with the big stick!!
I'm sick of it.

_Brian

There is no perception in the general public that farming is a bust business model.
The general opinion is that farming is as profitable as any business but farmers moan a lot and are just too mean to do things properly.

I had a friend from Dublin here recently and it took ages to get him to see how badly cornered farmers are, buying at retail and selling into a wholesale market where they are pricetakers.

Until there is a regulator appointed to ensure all stakeholders in the production stream have fair shares of the profits then nothing will happen. And there is no appetite for this as the major voices IFA &a Teagasc aren't calling for it.

There is some stuff lads can do to improve safety easily and cheaply but as you say, the general safety standards will only be lifted when there is a profit in the industry.

Willfarman

Nothing to add here but my full agreement. You should post same on Facebook under the article.

_Brian

Willfarman wrote: »

Nothing to add here but my full agreement. You should post same on Facebook under the article.

I really think the problem is perception, posting in on social media just brings out the same cranks talking about new trailers and tractors with twin beakons!!

hannible the cannible

20silkcut wrote: »

Big difference between enforcing safety on multi million pound construction sites

Most guys are employed on single jobs where the price is so tight they themselves take the same safety cuts you're talking about, it seems odd that the industry that employed plenty farmers in the good times is the only industry you yourself beat with the stick , blame your IFA representatives or your local TD whom you helped vote into power for not sticking up for farmers rights but not an industry that is still struggling from complete collapse nearly a decade on , the only thing the construction industry can boast of in comparison to the farming industry is the better safety record , something farmers should try and replicate

20silkcut

hannible the cannible wrote: »

Most guys are employed on single jobs where the price is so tight they themselves take the same safety cuts you're talking about, it seems odd that the industry that employed plenty farmers in the good times is the only industry you yourself beat with the stick , blame your IFA representatives or your local TD whom you helped vote into power for not sticking up for farmers rights but not an industry that is still struggling from complete collapse nearly a decade on , the only thing the construction industry can boast of in comparison to the farming industry is the better safety record , something farmers should try and replicate

The author of the article used construction as a comparison to farming.

Farming has massive price collapses every few years.

Sam Kade

I used to think agriland was a good site but with a lot of the sh1te their journalists write not anymore. They had an article last week about a NZ farmer giving a prep talk to his cows before milking :rolleyes: And the one about the slurry was a joke.

Buford T. Justice XIX

Sam Kade wrote: »

I used to think agriland was a good site but with a lot of the sh1te their journalists write not anymore. They had an article last week about a NZ farmer giving a prep talk to his cows before milking :rolleyes: And the one about the slurry was a joke.

And their boss has been poached by INM to head up the Farming Indo so I wonder which direction both will go in now.