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STRENGTHENING FARM HEALTH AND SAFETY KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION SYSTEMS

Project description

Introducing safer practices on farms

Farming can be a dangerous occupation due to numerous risk factors such as operating heavy equipment. Studies show that farmers are at an extremely high risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries. Therefore, improving the health and safety of agricultural workers is a priority. In this context, the EU-funded SafeHabitus project will raise awareness about health and safety issues on the farm. To do so, it will develop digital storytelling methods that give a voice to the farm workers who have experienced accidents. It will also codesign farm work risk management tools and assess consumer willingness to pay extra for food production that protects health and safety.

Objective

SafeHabitus will make farming a safer occupation. Farming is amongst the most dangerous jobs in Europe. European statistics show that the fatality rate in farming is 233% higher than other industries and the accident rate is 18% higher. These figures underestimate the scale of the problem as a significant proportion of farm workplace fatalities, injuries and ill health go unreported, un-investigated, and prevention approaches are not learned. Improving farmers’ and farm workers’ health and safety requires action by a range of stakeholders to empower and support them to change unsafe practices and adopt new, safer and healthier ways of working. SafeHabitus is a multi-actor project that has come together to strengthen Farm Health and Safety Knowledge Innovation Systems (FHS KIS) and support the EU transition to social sustainability in farming. Our premise is that driving health and safety on farms is not about dissemination but changing habitual practices. To achieve this, SafeHabitus applies a range of novel methods; digital story telling methods with people who experienced accidents; application of the multi-actor approach to co-design farm work risk management tools; foresight analysis; analyses of consumer willingness to pay for food production that protects health and safety; bench-marking policies and elite interviews with policy makers. Our consortia include end-users, stakeholders and researchers in case study Member States. These work together in ten national COPs covering a representative variety of countries and sectors. SafeHabitus also engages with European bodies and stakeholders who provide critical bridges between EU and national / regional actors and who can influence EU policy such as the Geopa (Copa-Cogeca), CEJA, EFFAT, Oxfam, SVLFG, and AEIDL. This multi-level and transnational approach will allow SafeHabitus advance safer practices on farms across the EU.

Keywords

Coordinator

TEAGASC - AGRICULTURE AND FOOD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Net EU contribution
€ 717 388,75
Address
Oak Park
R93 Carlow
Ireland

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Region
Ireland Southern South-East
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 717 388,75

Participants (18)

Partners (1)