Farm Safety Statement (Ireland)

A Farm Safety Statement in Ireland sets out the standards, responsibilities, and procedures the organisation expects everyone to follow, and is shaped by the Work Act 1989.

The obligation to prepare a Safety Statement applies to every employer in Ireland, including farm employers who employ workers on a full-time, part-time, seasonal, or casual basis. For employers with three or fewer employees covered by a relevant Code of Practice — such as the HSA's Code of Practice for Managing Safety, Health and Welfare on Farms — compliance with the Code of Practice may satisfy the Safety Statement requirement under Section 20(3) of the 2005 Act. However, regardless of whether a formal Safety Statement is required, every farm employer must carry out a written Risk Assessment under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 299 of 2007), which implement EU Council Directive 89/391/EEC (the Framework Directive) in Irish law.

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA), established under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989 and operating under the 2005 Act, is the national body responsible for enforcing occupational health and safety law in Ireland, including on farms. The HSA employs inspectors who carry out announced and unannounced farm inspections, and who have powers to issue Improvement Notices, Prohibition Notices, and to initiate prosecutions under the 2005 Act. The HSA publishes extensive farm safety guidance at hsa.ie, including template Safety Statements, Risk Assessment forms, and the BeSMART online safety management tool which is free to use for small businesses including farms.

Agriculture is one of the most hazardous industries in Ireland. The HSA's annual fatal injury statistics consistently show that farming accounts for a disproportionate number of workplace fatalities relative to its share of employment. Common causes of farm fatalities include tractor overturns, animal handling incidents, falls from height, slurry gas asphyxiation, and machinery accidents. The Farm Safety Statement is a critical tool in identifying these risks before an accident occurs and implementing appropriate control measures.

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 299 of 2007), as amended by subsequent statutory instruments, contain detailed requirements regarding specific workplace hazards including manual handling, display screen equipment, personal protective equipment, use of work equipment, and working at height. Additional sector-specific regulations relevant to farming include the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Chemical Agents) Regulations 2001 (S.I. No. 619 of 2001), the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Biological Agents) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 572 of 2013), and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 291 of 2013) for any construction or maintenance work carried out on farm buildings.

A Farm Safety Statement is needed by every farm employer in Ireland who employs workers in any capacity on their farm. This includes full-time farm employees, part-time seasonal workers, family members employed under a contract of employment, foreign national workers under Employment Permits Act 2006 permits, and agency workers supplied through labour hire arrangements.

The Safety Statement is required before any farm worker commences employment. Under Section 20(3) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, the Safety Statement must be brought to the attention of all employees and other persons at the workplace who may be affected by it. A new employee must be shown the Safety Statement and have its contents explained to them as part of their induction.

The Farm Safety Statement must be reviewed and updated whenever there is a change in circumstances that may create new or changed risks — including the introduction of new farm machinery or equipment, new livestock enterprises, new chemicals or pesticides, new farm buildings, or new employees with different experience levels. Under Section 20(1) of the 2005 Act, the employer must review the Safety Statement whenever there is reason to believe it is no longer adequate, and following any accident, dangerous occurrence, or near-miss reportable to the HSA under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Reporting of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 370 of 2016).

You need a Farm Safety Statement when an HSA inspector visits your farm. Inspectors routinely request to see the Safety Statement and Risk Assessment, along with records of employee induction, safety training, equipment maintenance, and accident reporting. Failure to produce a Safety Statement during an HSA inspection may result in an Improvement Notice requiring compliance within 30 days, or prosecution under Section 78 of the 2005 Act. Teagasc provides farm safety advisory services and the HSA's BeSMART tool at besmart.ie provides a free, step-by-step Safety Statement preparation service tailored for small and medium farm enterprises.

A thorough Irish Farm Safety Statement prepared in compliance with Section 20 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 must contain the following essential elements.

Farm details: The farm name, address, Eircode, Farm Herd Number, and the name of the employer or person in charge of health and safety on the farm.

Hazard identification: A systematic identification of all hazards on the farm, organised by activity category including: livestock handling (cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, poultry); farm machinery and tractors (PTO shafts, ROPS, quad bikes); farm buildings and structures (grain stores, silage pits, slurry tanks, roofs); agro-chemicals and pesticides; biological hazards (Leptospirosis, E. coli, TB, Brucellosis); manual handling activities; working at height; electrical installations; farm visitors and children.

Risk Assessment: For each identified hazard, an assessment of the likelihood of harm occurring and the potential severity of harm, resulting in a risk rating (low, medium, high) using a standard risk matrix. The assessment must take into account existing controls already in place.

Control measures: Specific measures to eliminate or reduce each identified risk to an acceptable level, referenced against applicable legislation and HSA guidance. Controls should follow the hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Responsibilities: The names and roles of persons responsible for implementing and monitoring specific safety measures on the farm, including any Safety Representative appointed under Section 25 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.

Emergency procedures: Procedures for dealing with farm emergencies including accidents, fires, chemical spills, and slurry incidents. Location of first aid equipment, names of first aiders, and emergency service contact numbers including the local HSA regional office.

Accident reporting: Procedures for reporting accidents internally and to the HSA under S.I. No. 370 of 2016. Fatal accidents and specified serious injuries must be reported to the HSA immediately by the quickest practicable means.

Employee consultation and training records: Evidence of safety induction, training, and ongoing consultation with employees as required by Section 26 of the 2005 Act and the Safety Representatives provision under Section 25.

Chemical agents register: A register of all hazardous substances used on the farm, including fertilisers, pesticides, veterinary medicines, and slurry additives, maintained in compliance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Chemical Agents) Regulations 2001 (S.I. No. 619 of 2001) and accompanying Safety Data Sheets from suppliers.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) register: A record of PPE issued to each employee, including helmets, high-visibility vests, safety boots, gloves, and respiratory protection, with inspection and replacement dates documented as required by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 (Part 2, Chapter 3).

Review schedule: A confirmed annual review date and the name of the responsible person who will conduct the review, ensuring the Safety Statement remains current and reflects changes in farm activities, staffing, or equipment. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) recommends the BeSMART tool at besmart.ie for small farms to generate and maintain their Safety Statement records. The forms-legal.com Farm Safety Statement (Ireland) template covers the mandatory elements under Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015.