Only 28 per cent of farmers have filled in the mandatory safety risk-assessment statement, it has been confirmed.
The National Conference on Occupational Health and Safety in Agriculture, being held in Ennis, Co Clare, has also heard that little progress has been made since the mid-1990s in farm safety. Farm injury levels are running at 3,000 a year.
Minister for Labour Affairs Tony Killeen said work had begun on developing a new code of practice for farm safety.
"By completing the self- assessment and implementing its findings farmers are committing themselves to making progress with health and safety. This is the crucial step to improving the horrendous safety record on Irish farms," he said.
Prof Jim Phelan of the faculty of agri-food and the environment at UCD spoke of the findings of a three-year study conducted along with Teagasc and the Health and Safety Authority.
He said farm injury levels were unacceptable and little progress has been made since the mid-90s. Safety deserved a far higher place on most farmers' management agenda.
Prof Phelan said livestock accidents are the biggest cause of accidents (27 per cent) while falls and machinery account for 23 per cent and 19 per cent of accidents respectively.