NI Conservative’s agriculture and fisheries spokesman, Paul Leeman, has urged farmers to consider fitting new slurry gas detectors and asked the executive to step of its efforts to highlight the dangers involved in farming. His comments follow the tragic accident in Hillsborough, when three members of one family died, after inhaling fumes from a slurry pit.
“The Spence tragedy highlights the dangers which farmers face on a daily basis and it underlines the deadly effects of slurry gas,” Paul emphasised. “I realise that many farms run on very tight margins, and the £150 – 200 which it can cost farmers to carry a modern, effective detector may seem like a lot of money and, as a fisherman, I know only too well the burden that the cost of safety equipment can be. But what price can we place on someone’s life? In the interim, every effort must be made to ensure that existing detection equipment is thoroughly tested, to ensure it is working.”
“It is also incumbent upon the department of agriculture and the Health and Safety Executive to step up their efforts to emphasise the dangers which farmers face each day. These include not just the deadly effects of slurry, but also the hazards posed by heavy machinery, working long hours alone and other risks.”
“The incident at the Spence family farm was absolutely heart-breaking. Perhaps some good can come out of this terrible event, if the dangers around farming can be highlighted and farmers’ safety improved.”