Free farm safety training is being made available to 300 Irish farm workers and families as part of an initiative designed to strengthen safety awareness and encourage safer practices across generations.

FRS Training has launched the 2026 Farm Family CPD programme, providing free online safety training to farming families across Ireland. Supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the programme follows the success of its 2025 edition and is available until 30 October 2026. The five courses cover tractor and machinery safety, chainsaw and quad bike operations, livestock handling, slurry safety and general farm wellbeing.

The programme is designed for people across different generations of farming families, including farm principals, employees, children aged 12 to 16 and people aged over 65. Its multi-generational approach reflects the range of people who may be exposed to hazards on farms, where machinery, livestock, vehicles and slurry facilities can create risks for workers, family members and visitors. The Health and Safety Authority's agricultural safety guidance highlights machinery, livestock and other farm activities as key areas requiring effective risk management.

Machinery remains a significant area of agricultural safety, with tractors, farm vehicles, PTO shafts and other equipment presenting serious risks when operated or maintained incorrectly. Teagasc farm safety guidance provides practical advice on machinery, livestock and other common farm hazards, reinforcing the importance of training and safe working procedures. Slurry handling is another major concern, with the HSA identifying drowning and toxic gas exposure as significant risks associated with slurry operations.

The training initiative comes as farming businesses continue to balance productivity with the need to maintain safe working environments. Providing accessible safety education can help farmers and workers identify hazards before incidents occur, review working practices and improve their understanding of higher-risk activities. For younger and older members of farming families, early awareness can also help establish safer behaviours around machinery, livestock and other agricultural operations.

For the sector, the lesson is clear: effective farm safety depends on continuous education and shared responsibility across the farming community. Free, accessible training can help strengthen safety knowledge across generations while supporting farmers and workers in managing everyday risks. By combining practical guidance with ongoing safety awareness, farming businesses can take a more preventative approach to protecting people working and living on agricultural holdings.

Source: Kilkenny Live / Health and Safety Authority (HSA) / Teagasc / Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine