Safe Driving

March 17, 2021
Safe Driving

Again this year ever more adults, children and indeed families are using the roads to walk, run, jog and cycle.  PAC Ireland reminds agricultural contractors of the responsibilities that come with driving for work. This is particularly true during the silage season when more and more large tractors and machinery use the roads.  Stay alert…

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Hedge Cutting – Closed Season

March 1, 2021
Hedge Cutting – Closed Season

PAC Ireland reminds everyone that Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976, as amended by Section 46 of the 2000 Amendment Act, prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August. The Minister has no discretion to change these dates. There is provision in the…

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Happy Retirement

February 1, 2021
Happy Retirement

All at PAC Ireland wish Arthur Byrne, Public Services After nearly 40 years of dedicated service, Arthur Byrne, Public Safety Manager with the ESB retired on Friday 29th January. PAC has worked for many years with Arthur and the ESB to spread the safety message to agricultural contractors and will continue to do so with…

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200 Farm Inspections

July 10, 2020
200 Farm Inspections

On Monday 13th July The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) will undertake a two week inspection campaign highlighting on-going safety issues on farms. Inspectors will visit farms nationwide with a view of highlighting a number of safety issues in order to reduce fatalities and serious incidents. The second week of the campaign coincides with Farm…

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Stop the Spread of Grass Weeds

June 30, 2020
Stop the Spread of Grass Weeds

Good machinery hygiene is critical in stopping the spread of grass weeds across farms and from farm to farm. Always take the time to clean down machinery after working in a field where grass weeds are present. This rule applies to both contractors and farmers as they move from field to field within their own…

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“Open Your Eyes to Farm Safety” – Worth a Watch

June 11, 2020
“Open Your Eyes to Farm Safety” – Worth a Watch

PAC Ireland applauds the initiative of five school boys (all affected by farm deaths) who, supervised by a great teacher & mentor, decided to raise funds for Embrace FARM by holding a Tractor Run, which raised €7,000. Not satisfied with that they decided to go further and create a farm safety video to encourage other…

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Dicing with Death

May 29, 2020
Dicing with Death

TikTok clips showing young tractor drivers engaging in reckless and highly dangerous behaviour involving agricultural machinery is totally unacceptable.  These people should be dealt with in the most severe way possible, says Tom Murphy, Director of Professional Agricultural Contractors of Ireland.  Employers who are aware that it is their drivers and vehicles in these videos…

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Driving Alert

May 14, 2020
Driving Alert

Message from PAC Chairman, Michael Sheehan. Due to COVID-19 and school closures there are more, people, especially children, on the roads and in and around farms. During the busy and intense silage season, Agricultural Contractors are urged to drive with caution and remain vigilant when on the roads travelling to and from farms and when…

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Safety Message for Silage Contractors

May 13, 2020
Safety Message for Silage Contractors

Working too close to electricity wires & poles is DANGEROUS, always keep at least 3 metres distance and never touch electricity wires. The ESB has written an open letter to all silage contractors and this can be viewed by following this LINK please take the time to read it, it could just save your life….

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214 Farming Deaths – People not Statistics

May 12, 2020
214 Farming Deaths – People not Statistics

In the years 2010-2019, there were two hundred and fourteen deaths in the farming sector (source HSA). These are not just statistics; each loss is a real person who is mourned and missed by their family and friends.  Incidents involving tractors, farm vehicles and machinery account for a significant percentage of deaths, so at this…

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