The most dangerous occupation in Ireland in terms of fatalities is farming, a new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has found.

According to its findings, farming is the occupation with the highest risk of fatalities in this country. In fact, the rate of fatalities among farmers was found to be almost 10 times higher than the average across occupations between 2009 and 2015.

The report, Risk Taking and Accidents on Irish Farms, looked at the different types of risks that farmers take and whether these are linked with accidents or near misses on farms.

Over 800 self-employed farmers were surveyed as part of the research. Of these, 12% had been personally involved in an accident in the previous 10 years, while 27% had experienced a near miss. Some 8% said that another person had been involved in an accident on their farm.

However, only half of farmers who had experienced an accident said that they subsequently changed something on their farm.

The report found that the biggest risk farmers take is failing to get help with difficult jobs, followed by failing to use safety gear such as goggles and high-viz vests.

Other risks included failing to check machinery was in good working order before using it and keeping chemicals safely stored away from children.

The report noted that unmarried farmers were more likely not to check machinery before use, while farmers with larger farms were more likely not to use safety gear.

Failing to store chemicals out of reach of children was more likely on dairy farms and among part-time farmers.

However, the researchers found no link between risk taking and work stress.

According to one of the report's authors, Dorothy Watson of the ESRI, farm safety ‘is a critical issue'.

"In the last seven years, 138 people have been killed in farm accidents, making farming the most dangerous occupation in terms of fatalities. The results of this report highlight the significance of getting help with difficult jobs and checking machinery in reducing the risk of accidents in farming," she said.

Meanwhile, according to HSA chief executive, Martin O'Halloran, this research is important ‘because it helps us to develop a deeper understanding of the mindset of farmers and why unsafe practices are occurring'.

"Once we understand what triggers risk taking on farms, we can implement strategies that are appropriate for the industry, and that will bring about a sustained reduction in accidents," he commented.

The report can be downloaded here