ICMSA: HSA rules on telescopic telehandlers 'way over the top'
The vast majority of farmers are completely unaware that training is now required under Health and Safety Authority (HSA) telescopic telehandlers rules, according to farm organisation.
Pat O’Brien, chairperson of the farm business committee for the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) has criticised requirements for training from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).
Under the HSA’s Code of Practice, farmers and employees must have the appropriate training for using telescopic telehandlers to lift items such as fertiliser bags or bales.
There are estimated to be around 4,000 telehandlers on farms in Ireland, and O’Brien said farmers remained “uncertain” about what the differing requirements in differing circumstances.
Speaking after a meeting yesterday with the HSA, O’Brien said that the vast majority of farmers are “completely unaware” that training is now required under the HSA’s Code of Practice (which came into operation last September) on the use on farms of telescopic telehandlers when lifting items such as bales and fertiliser bags or any ‘unit’ load.
O’Brien called on the HSA to review the code’s training duration and cost.
Concerns
O’Brien said: “The first concern is that farmers are not even aware that the Code of Practice sets out a need for training and the fact that if the farmer or an employee hasn’t completed the required training, they are at the mercy of the judge in the event of a legal case arising.
“The second big issue is the length and cost of the training with the proposed course taking up to five days with three days at a minimum.
“The course itself could cost €1,000, and when you include wages and PRSI, you could be paying €2,000 for an employee to complete it.”
O’Brien described the cost as “ridiculous” and added that it will “do nothing for farm safety”.
He added: “It’s going to cost €4 million when you take 4,000 telehandlers across Irish farms and assuming only one person gets trained.”
ICMSA said: “A more practical collaborative approach is needed that would include ‘on farm’ demonstration days that would allow farmers to avoid costly and time-consuming courses that must be considered doubtful in terms of practical improvements to farm safety.”
O’Brien added: “If we really want to make farms safer, then we should be focussed on providing training that is both time and cost-efficient.
“People won’t do it otherwise, that’s the reality.
“The length of the training acts as a deterrent for participation and there needs to be allowances or ‘credits’ made for experienced operators too.”
He added: “Everybody wants safer farms but the approach being adopted on telehandlers is ridiculous and so ‘over the top’ that it puts people off engaging at all.
“The HSA has to start living in the real world where farmers are and must come back with a more practical and commonsense option.”
Farm safety
In January, the HSA published provisional figures showing that 58 people died in work-related incidents in Ireland during 2025.
The figure represents a 61% increase on the 36 who died in 2024.
The agriculture sector, with 23 deaths, continues to account for the highest number of fatalities representing 40% of all work-related fatalities last year from a sector employing approximately 4% of the workforce.
