During the summer, farms are popular places for children and young people to work and play. Farmers are being reminded that it’s important to remember that working farms can be dangerous places for youngsters and so they should pay particular attention to how they can keep them safe.
Child Safety On Farms
Thinking about all the equipment used day to day on a working farm, it’s easy to see why farms can be dangerous places. Agricultural accidents have one of the highest fatal injury rates of any other industry. As a result, agriculture is classed as a high risk industry and is the only industry classed as such in Great Britain which also has the presence of children to deal with.
The head of the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) agriculture sector, Graeme Walker, commented:
“Farms are workplaces but unique workplaces as they are also homes. Many children and young people live on or visit farms – particularly at this time of year – and, while we want them to develop a love of farming, it must be done safely”.
The unique environment a farm provides can be an exciting place to play and to learn new farming skills but the reality is that young people are killed or injured on farms every year.
The HSE has issued new guidelines and guidance which it hoped will reduce the number of accidents on farms that involve children. It provides vital information about how to keep children safe in a farm environment and highlights the jobs and tasks that are too dangerous to children and young people to undertake.
If you have any questions in relation to the topics discussed in this article, please contact our expert Personal Injury team in Derby, Leicester and Nottingham on 0800 024 1976 or via our online form.