Parents, family and friends can have a major influence on farm safety and risk perceptions, study finds
THE influence of parents, friends and other farmers can have a major influence on how young adults perceive risk and danger on farms, according to a recent Teagasc research study.
A key factor in improving farm safety is what Teagasc researchers categorise as Farm Injury Risk Perception [FIRP] – when a person perceives a higher chance of injury associated with a practice, situation or behaviour.
In the Teagasc study on farm safety, 417 agricultural science students in Ireland – split evenly between first and second years – were surveyed before they had completed their module on farm safety.
One in four of those students reported experiencing a ‘near miss or close call’ in the previous year while working on their farm.
Almost one in seven [14%] had suffered a farm related injury in the past year, severe enough to disrupt their education or farm work for more than one day.
In the survey, close on half [45%] of respondents were classified as risk optimistic – meaning that they underestimated the likelihood of injury or harm – while over 40% were risk averse, perceiving a higher chance of injury.
A summary of the survey results – published in the Spring edition of the Teagasc TResearch magazine – noted that over one in three of the respondents [34.5%] had a personal knowledge of someone who had died in a farm accident.
Well over half of those who took part in the survey [56.4%] knew someone who was moderately or severely injured as the result of a farm related incident.
In relation to Farm Injury Risk Perception [FIRP], over 72% of the young farmers identified farmers, family and friends as being their main influences.
Research Officer with Teagasc, Mohammad Mohammadrezeai, said that as well as education and training of farm safety, the influence of farm families in this regard was important.
A number of accounts of serious farm accidents, which have been filmed, provide ‘a valuable resource to the sector to promote farm safety, assuming such resources are approached with suitable sensitivity’, said the Teagasc Research Officer.
“Despite the potential challenges associated with peer learning on the topic of farm safety, this research highlights the need for educational tools focusing on real-life experiences and showing the real consequences of risk actions, rather than just pointing out dangers.
“By using practical examples and positive social influences from trusted individuals, we can challenge harmful farming traditions and shift the mindset in farming communities.
“This can help create a safety-first culture where avoiding risks is seen as a key part of farming culture,” said Mohammad Mohammadrezaei.
■ Other contributors to the research project were: David Meredith, Teagasc Ashtown; John McNamara, Teagasc Health and Safety Specialist; and Sinéad Flannery, UCD School of Ag. Science. The article can be read in full in the Spring 2025 edition of TResearch.