THE Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) has described farming as the most dangerous occupation. Industrial accident figures show agriculture accounts for more than one third of such deaths.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) annual report showed that death through industrial accidents in the agricultural sector rose from 22 in 1994 to 28 in 1995.
The ICOS representative on the HSA agricultural safety task force, Mr Malachy McGlynn, expressed concern at the level of under-reporting of serious accidents indicated by the report.
He was also concerned about the general level of farmer awareness of the health and safety regulations.
The report indicated serious deficiencies in the layout of farm workplaces and in the provision of health and safety training, he said.