There are common concerns amongst farmers regarding their wellbeing, due to working in the sector with one of the highest fatality rates. But members of the European Social Partners in Agriculture, the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT) and the Employers’ Group of Copa-Cogeca (GEOPA) have developed a new online interactive risk-assessment (OiRA) tool to support farm safety.
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), which supported the development of the tool, stated “proper risk assessment is of vital importance to improve the protection of workers and save lives in one of the sectors with the highest fatality rates.”
Focusing on work-related risks in agriculture the tool aims to increase the occupational safety and health (OSH) standards, while monitoring livestock, horticultural and fruit production. The online tool uses internationally recognised technology for OSH practices, and can be used to monitor social conditionality which was recently included in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-2027.
According to the social partners the OiRA tool is the most comprehensive to date and serves the needs of both employers and workers while contributing to the future of farms and agro-cooperatives in the EU.
OiRA tools are currently available for 12 different sectors, however this tool is the first one available to all EU member states.
LSL News.