Keeping children safe on farms is the theme for the final day of Farm Safety Week.

Between 2005-2015, 22 children have lost their lives in accidents on Irish farms.

According to the Farm Safety Foundation’s Stephanie Berkeley: “We all know that farms can be wonderful places for children, where independence and responsibility are fostered and family relationships are strengthened.

"The farm environment provides children with valuable and unique experiences that enable them to develop both socially and physically, even though they are in an isolated setting. However farmyards are not playgrounds and evidence shows that this places children at greater risk of injury when playing or helping out around the farm."

Summer is a time when children can be more at risk

Stephanie added that, "People often believe that farm children understand farm risks, but most children who are hurt in farm incidents are family members.

"Helping out on the farm, taking a ride on a tractor or helping at calving or lambing time seems exciting to many children, but it is just not safe. Summer is a time when children can be more at risk with the long school summer holidays and the challenging workloads for farmers.

"Farm Safety Week encourages farming families to have a dedicated safe play area for younger children so as to keep them safe from heavy machinery and other dangers around the farm, particularly when farms are at their busiest. Too often, children have access to the entire farm and view it as one big play space. Children must be taught about farm dangers and be kept isolated from these risks."

Watch video below produced by the Health and Safety Authority:

Farm Safety Week

Farm Safety Week runs from 4 July to 8 July and the Irish Farmers Journal will have daily coverage as well as in this week's print edition.

Share your stories

Do you have a personal experience to share? Email webdesk@farmersjournal.ie and we will publish a selection of these online.

Read more

Full coverage: Farm Safety Week