Summer is a particularly dangerous time for children on farms as they’re off school and are about more when farms are particularly busy, the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has said. Since the year 2000, 11 children have lost their lives due to work-related accidents on farms.

The HSENI has visited over 75 schools since Easter to deliver workshops on farm safety to over 10,750 children.

“Children are naturally curious. Farms, and in particular working farms, can be tempting places for them to play and often children do not understand the dangers a farm can present,” UFU president Ivor Ferguson said.

“It can be very difficult to both supervise children and work on the farm.”

Precautions

Farm safety checklist for parents:

  • Have a safe and secure play area for young children.
  • Prevent children from playing in or around farmyards and livestock.
  • Prevent all children under the age of 13 from riding on tractors and farm machinery.
  • Restrict the use of the quad and provide suitable safety equipment.
  • Secure all heavy wheels, gates, heavy equipment and stacked materials to prevent them from toppling over.
  • Ensure your slurry lagoon is securely fenced to prevent children from gaining access and make sure tank covers are always in place.
  • Always keep children well away when mixing slurry.
  • Keep track of where family members are playing or working and when they are expected back.
  • Make sure everyone washes their hands before eating and drinking.
  • Keep chemicals locked in a secure store when not in use.
  • Make sure that guards are in place to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery.
  • Make sure all family members know what to do in an emergency.
  • Prepare a list of emergency contact telephone numbers.
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