National Farm Safety Measure 2023

This measure is being introduced by the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine to incentivise the purchase and use of certain farm safety equipment, which protect farmers and machinery operators from serious and fatal injuries.

Records show that, over the past decade, there were on average 19 fatal incidents on Irish farms each year, accounting for more than two in five of all workplace fatalities. In addition, there are approximately 4,500 non-fatal incidents each year on Irish farms, some of which result in lifechanging injuries.

The measure will provide a financial contribution to participating farmers for a maximum of two quad 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.

Participants must have submitted a Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application in 2023 to be eligible to apply.

Participants must submit an Expression of Interest to the Department before purchasing the eligible equipment.

The expression of interest must be submitted by 27 October 2023.

Once an expression of interest has been submitted, the application for payment (claim) must be submitted no later than Friday 10th November 2023.

PTO shaft covers and quad bike (ATV) helmets must meet the standards specified in the terms and conditions:

• All quad bike (ATV) helmets must meet ECE 22.05 or ECE 22.06, and the helmet if fitted with a visor, the visor must carry the type approval mark.

• Meet the requirements of the European Standards EN 12965:2019 and the CE mark must be clearly visible on the PTO shaft cover.

All invoices/ receipts must state that the quad bike (ATV) helmets purchased meet ECE 22.05 or ECE 22.06 and PTO shaft covers purchased meet EN 12965:2019.

Participants in the National Farm Safety Measure 2023 will receive a financial contribution up to 60% of the value of the eligible cost of quad bike (ATV) helmets and PTO shaft covers purchased under the Measure. The maximum eligible cost is €100 per PTO shaft cover and €150 per quad bike (ATV) helmet.

Participants (or their advisor) must complete an Expression of Interest on www.agfood.ie, the Department’s online service by selecting the ’AgSchemes-Expression of Interest’ and then ‘National Farm Safety Measure 2023’ from the dropdown list.

Further information on farm safety and the quad helmet and PTO shaft cover standards specified in the terms and conditions can be found at www.HSA.ie/farmsafety and Item was unpublished or removed.

• HSA Information Note on PTO Drive Shafts and their Guards

•HSA update on the implementation of Regulations governing ATV/Quad Bike Training and Helmet wearing SI 619 of 2021

•HSA Safe use of Quad Bikes in Agriculture and Forestry

The Data Protection Notice below can also be viewed on the Department’s website at gov.ie - Data Protection Privacy Notices (www.gov.ie)