A nationwide week-long farm inspection campaign focused on farmer health and wellbeing has been launched by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) today (Monday, November 21).

Research consistently finds that farmers in particular and those working on the land suffer greater work-related health issues than those working in many other sectors, according to the HSA.

Musculoskeletal injury, cardiovascular disease, hearing loss, particular skin cancers, workplace stress and anxiety all have a disproportionate effect on farmers' health.

During the inspection campaign, HSA inspectors will encourage farmers to consider their health and wellbeing and to take proactive steps to protect their physical and mental health. Advice includes:

Research shows that 1 in 4 farmers at the age of 30 and half of farmers at the age of 50 have hearing loss. In addition, around 7 in 10 teenagers living on farms show early signs of "noise-induced" hearing loss, the HSA said.

One in two farmers have suffered from back problems at some time in their life and one poor lift can result in a lifelong injury. About 60% of non-smoking Irish farmers report having some lung or breathing issues.

Farmers who now rely heavily on machinery do not get enough physical activity, and 1 in 5 cases of heart disease and 1 in 10 cases of stroke are caused by lack of physical activity, according to the HSA.

Farmers and those working on farms have four times the risk of developing skin disease and cancers compared with other occupational groups, with deaths from melanoma higher among farmers than "indoor" workers.

Launching the inspection campaign, senior inspector for agriculture at the HSA, Pat Griffin said many farmers do not consider their own health and wellbeing a priority in their day-to-day work on the farm, but that must change.

"I would encourage farmers to take one step this month to establish healthy habits in their work on the farm around physical activity, diet and connection with others, and ensure they have a good work-life balance," he said.

Feeling stressed influences your thinking and problem-solving, reducing your ability to think clearly and calmly and can have long-term negative health impacts, according to the HSA.

"Farmers should consider workload and what they are doing on the farm today, how it can affect them in the long run and what changes would help," Griffin added.