The Health and Safety Authority is beginning a two-week national inspection campaign on farm vehicles.
The campaign comes as machinery activity on farms increases, ahead of the beginning of the silage season.
There have been 34 deaths in vehicle-related incidents on farms over a five-year period.
This inspection campaign will focus in particular on the safe use of tractors and ATVs, better known as quad bikes.
The authority said 18 of the 34 vehicle-related deaths on farms in the last five years involved tractors, while four involved quad bikes.
From this morning, HSA inspectors will make spots checks on farms and encourage farmers to take the time to plan for the safe use of all machinery, to ensure those using machinery are properly trained and competent and to ensure vehicles are mechanically sound.
Inspectors will also highlight that mandatory training and helmet use on quad bikes will be introduced from November this year.
The HSA said the majority of injuries and fatalities with farm machinery involve a combination of operator error, poor maintenance procedures and a lack of training.
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"We're running this inspection campaign primarily to encourage farmers to take time to plan for the safe use of tractors and machinery ahead of the busy silage harvesting season," said Pat Griffin Senior Inspector with the HSA.
"We urge farmers to plan ahead and make sure all involved in silage harvesting, all workers and contractors, have the necessary training and competence to do the job safely.
"Safe systems of work that minimise risk must be planned for on each farm and followed by all involved. Training must take place if it hasn’t already, particularly for new operators, to ensure the safe use of all machinery.
"The condition of the machinery to be used is also critical and any maintenance required should be identified & addressed now, well in advance of use, particularly to hitching, steering and braking systems."
Meanwhile, the authority is investigating the death of a farmer in his 60s in Enniskeane Co Cork last Friday.
It is believed he was attacked by a bull while working in a shed.
