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Children and Safety on Farms
Over 30% of accidents on farms involve children and young people ranging from minor injuries to fatal incidents where, tragically, children have been killed in accidents on farms. In 1991 the Health and Safety Authority established an Advisory Committee on the Agriculture and Forestry Sector. The Committee’s report identified farming as a high risk occupation with a recurring pattern of accidents which were simply not acceptable and produced some guidance documents to help prevent accidents to children on farms. For more information log onto www.hsa.ie
DANGER AREAS
Everyone concerned with agricultural activities should ensure that the general workplace where children may be present is kept free of hazards. Children should be excluded from:
• Areas where the work conditions may affect their health e.g. where there is excessive noise or dust.
• Silage pits which should be well fenced off and not accessible.
• Access to bulls and other potentially dangerous livestock.
• Hazards such as slurry stores, silos, bulk storage hoppers, grain pits, water hazards etc.
• Areas where there are stacks of hay or straw bales, pallets or sacks or stacked timber etc
Many accidents involve children being run over or crushed by vehicles. Drivers need to be constantly aware that children could unexpectedly be in a position of danger.
GUIDELINES
The HSA have produced some guidelines to help keep your children safe when they’re on the farm. So, if your children live on a farm or are visiting one, make sure they learn all these tips so that they can have fun and be safe on the farm.
Rule 1
LISTEN TO GROWN-UPS!
Because the farm can be a dangerous place, there are lots of areas where you might need help from your parents or other adults about how to avoid the risks. When you’re told that you’re not old enough to ride in the tractor, or milk the cows or help with silage making, remember it’s for your own good and it’ll help you stay safe. But that doesn’t mean you can’t help out. There are many jobs you can do once a grown-up is keeping a close eye to make sure you’re ok. Being on a farm can be great fun, as long as you play by the rules and keep clear of the dangers.
Rule 2
TRACTORS ARE NOT FOR CHILDREN!
If you’re under 14, the Code says you must never drive a tractor. What’s
more, you can’t even take a lift on it, unless it’s got a seat specially made for
children, with a safety belt to keep you from falling. It’s ok sometimes for boys
and girls who are over 14 to drive a tractor on the farm. But only if they’ve
been on a course to teach them to drive it safely. They must only use it
when there are grown-ups keeping an eye on them, and when the ground is not too dangerous. Keep well clear of tractors moving in the farmyard.
Rule 3
STAY WELL AWAY FROM DANGEROUS MACHINES!
Machines are dangerous and many can cut your arm or leg off if you go to close to them while they are working. This can happen very easily because they are often very noisy and the person using them may not know that you are close by. Many children have even died in this way. Other machines can catch your clothes in them if you stand too near, and this can cause a serious accident. Very nasty! So to make sure you don’t get hurt, the best thing is to stay well away.
Rule 4
DON’T BE A WATER BABY!
Paddling or swimming in the swimming pool can be fun, but only when it is safe. A farm is no place for messing around with water, so stay clear of streams and rivers and barrels, baths, wells and tanks. It only takes a second to fall in, but if you do, it might be too late to save you. Don’t take the chance.
Rule 5
SLURRY IS LIKE QUICK-SAND – KEEP YOUR DISTANCE.
Sometimes slurry in an open slurry pit can look hard but really it only
has a thin surface on it. If you ran across it, the crust would break and
you would go straight into the smelly lagoon and drown. If you kick
your ball onto the slurry pit by mistake, never try to get it back. Tell a
grown-up and let them help you.
Rule 6
KEEP YOUR TWO FEET ON THE GROUND!
Climbing can be dangerous and cause you to fall and hurt yourself. So stay away from ladders and bales, pallets, tyres or anything else that you might find piled up on the farm. Bales, pallets and tyres are often very wobbly and can easily fall. A falling bale or tractor tyre can weigh as much as several grown adults and can kill you if it hits you. So don’t play on the bales or on the tyres. When you’re playing, keep your two feet on the ground, and not in the air!
Rule 7
GIVE THE ANIMALS THEIR SPACE!
Animals are cute to look at but they are a bit like children – they need their own space to play in. So we have to be careful not to get too close to bulls, cows, sheep or pigs. A cow who is trying to protect her babies can quickly get
frightened and attack you if you get too close. And many animals can get very
excited when they are being moved from one place to another, like we do when we are going on holidays! They can jump around a lot, and they’re so big and heavy, they could easily stand on your foot or even squash you against the wall and kill you. You wouldn’t want that, would you? So never go into the animal’s pens. After all, you wouldn’t like to see them in your bedroom, would you? And another thing, animals can carry harmful germs. Because they don’t have showers and baths the way we do, you have to be careful not to catch anything yucky from them. So it’s best not to put your fingers in their mouths. Never put your finger in your mouth after touching animals and always remember to wash and dry your hands properly after you have been near animals, even if they look clean to you!
Rule 8
TAKE CARE NEAR DANGEROUS CHEMICALS!
When animals get sick they use medicines from the Vet just like we do from the doctor. They can be bad for children, and make you very sick, so never touch them. The same goes for any powders or bottles for cleaning in the dairy or any chemicals in the shed. Most will be marked with a big X or a skull and cross bones. That means they can kill you so don’t go near them.
Rule 9
DON’T PLAY WITH FIRE OR YOU MIGHT GET BURNED!
Hay or straw can burn very easily. If it goes on fire, everything near it
will soon be up in smoke and you might be badly burned or even die.
So never play with matches at any time. It’s not cool. It’s stupid.
Rule 10
HAVE FUN IN A SAFE PLAY AREA!
Remember, a farm is a great place to be and there are lots of things
you can do to help your parents. But when you’re playing, you should
stay in a safe play area, away from all the dangerous things you’ve
learned from this code.
TRAINING
Safe Tractor Driving Skills for 14-16 year olds.
This programme has been specifically designed to develop safety skills of 14-16 year olds in relation to tractor driving. The course covers both the practical and theory relating to tractor handling for on-farm use only. For more details contact: National Co-Op Farm Relief Services, Derryvale, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary.
Phone No: 0505 22100
HEALTH AND SAFETY AUTHORITY
HEADQUARTERS
10 Hogan Place, Dublin 2
Tel. (01) 614 7000
Fax. (01) 614 7020
e-mail: infotel@hsa.ie
website: www.hsa.ie |
