Another Farm Accident claims a Life - Armstrong
Ulster Unionist Party candidate for Mid- Ulster, Billy Armstrong wishes to express his sympathies to the family of Mr James Quinn, a farmer who was so tragically killed in a farming accident at Pomeroy Road, Dungannon on Wednesday 31 January 2007.
Billy said: “ Our first thoughts are with Mrs Quinn and her four children. Unfortunately this is a further example of the dangers of working on a farm and we must endeavour to reduce the toll of tragedy, suffering and economic loss that such accidents bring.
“It is understood that Mr Quinn became entangled in a spinning rotation bar behind the tractor. Tractor and machinery accidents account for 50% of deaths on farms.
“The advice from Health and Safety Executive is that all farmers must “Think Safety” as they strive to make their farms a safer place and to take immediate action to safeguard everyone on farms during 2007 in order to avoid similar tragedies as this.
“I am pleased that Health and Safety Executive are introducing new laws in Northern Ireland with the aim of reducing the horrific death toll of children on Ulster farms – 16 deaths have occurred in the last decade. In future, farmers will be expected to create a secure play area to prevent children from straying into dangerous spots. The new rules will also bar children under the age of 13 from operating, driving or riding on agricultural machinery.
“New regulations will mean that children aged 13 to 16 will only be able to drive tow or operate agricultural machinery if supervised by a competent adult and hold a nationally recognised certificate in the safe driving and operation of tractors. The regulations advise that children aged 13 to 16 should not operate specific machinery, such as PTO driven machinery, harvesting machinery, slurry tanks or pumps.
“All these measures are necessary to avoid similar farm accidents as occurred this week. Recent events and statistics should motivate everyone in farming to put health and safety measures in place”