Safer farming for life 

The latest full-year figures from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) show that there were 24 work-related fatalities in agriculture in 2025, accounting for almost 40 per cent of all work-related fatalities in Ireland. Twelve of these fatalities involved people aged 65 or over.

Older farmers at greater risk

Older farmers are disproportionately represented in fatal farm incidents. The HSA’s most recent data for the period 2016-2025 shows that 56 per cent of fatal farm accidents involved people aged 65 or older. According to the HSA data for the period 2015-2024, the main causes of fatal farm incidents involving people aged 65 or older are:

• Vehicles – 36 per cent;
• Livestock – 26 per cent;
• Falls – 17 per cent;
• Falling loads – 8 per cent; and
• Drowning – 8 per cent.

Age-related risk factors

Many farmers remain fit, healthy, and capable well beyond traditional retirement age. But it makes sense to be aware of changes that can occur over time. Key areas to consider:

• Strength and flexibility decline with age. Be aware of your physical limits and avoid lifting, carrying or moving loads or carrying out tasks that are beyond your capability. 
• Reduced mobility, balance or reaction time can make it more difficult to respond quickly around livestock, machinery, and moving vehicles.
• Changes in eyesight can make working in poor light, judging distances, or seeing hazards more difficult.
• Hearing loss can make it harder to hear vehicles, machinery, animals, alarms, or warnings from other people.
• Illness, medication, joint stiffness and fatigue can affect working ability from one day to the next. Take these factors into account before starting a demanding or higher-risk job.

Practical safety tips

Before beginning a task, particularly one involving machinery, livestock, heavy physical work or working at height, ask yourself:

• Can I do this job safely today?
• Do I need someone to help me?
• Would a contractor or specialist be better equipped to do it?
• Do I have the right equipment?
• Is there a safer way to do the job?

Machinery and vehicles
Keep all farm machinery in good working order. Do not use equipment that is unsafe or unsuitable simply because you are familiar with it. Vehicles remain the largest single category associated with fatalities among farmers aged 65 and over, so extra care around tractors and machinery is particularly important.

Livestock handling
Good handling facilities can reduce the need to rely on physical strength or quick reactions. Well-designed pens, gates, and handling equipment can help separate the farmer from the animal and make routine tasks easier and safer. Take particular care around unpredictable animals, including cows at calving, and avoid putting yourself in a position where you need to move quickly to escape danger.

Review how you farm
Consider whether equipment, facilities, or the farming system itself could be adapted to reduce physical and mental demands. Investing in equipment that reduces manual handling, improving facilities, using contractors for demanding jobs, and reviewing the type and amount of work undertaken can all help. Also, consider succession planning as part of managing workload and preparing for the future.

Stay connected and healthy
Let someone know where you are working, particularly before undertaking a higher-risk job. Carry a fully charged mobile phone and keep it on your person at all times.
Your health is part of farm safety. Consider having regular health checks including a hearing test and an eyesight test. Be aware of the side effects of any medication you are taking, adjust your workload when unwell, tired, or experiencing reduced mobility or joint stiffness.

Experience is an asset
Getting older does not mean having to step away from farming. The key is to adapt. A lifetime of farming experience is most valuable when it is combined with an honest assessment of what can be done safely today. Take time to review your own safety on the farm. Talk to your family about jobs that are becoming more difficult, invest in safer equipment and facilities where possible, and ask for help when you need it.