Tipperary Farmers are encouraged to avail of State Funding to improve Farm Safety.
Financial aid will cover 60% of the eligible cost of quad bike helmets and Power Take Off (PTO) shaft covers. A total of €1.5m has been allocated to support farmers in the purchase of this equipment.
Over the past decade there have been 10 farm fatalities involving quads, of which two were under 18 and six were over 65 years of age. Farm vehicles and machinery account for over half of all fatalities on farms and Entanglement in power take-off (PTO) shafts has caused fatalities and life-changing injuries on Irish farms.
The Measure will be open for applications until 29th September 2023 on the www.agfood.ie website.
The maximum amount of aid under the measure is for two quad bike (ATV) helmets and four PTO shaft covers. The grant aid will be at a rate of 60% subject to a maximum eligible cost of €100 per PTO shaft cover and €150 per quad bike (ATV) helmet.
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 places a legal obligation on farmers to ensure that plant and machinery are safe and without risk to health. From 20 November 2023, it will be mandatory for all operators of Quad bikes to undergo training and to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including a helmet, when using such vehicles for work.
