Due to the fact that most schools and nurseries have had to close to comply with HM Government’s response to the pandemic outbreak, children and young persons who live on farms are likely to be at home on the farm for a number of weeks. This also includes children and young persons who may not actually live in the farm business household but may well live within the boundaries of your farm in tenanted / rented / owned accommodation.
The law requires you to assess the risks to anyone who may be affected by your work activities. This will help you decide what you need to do to comply with the law and reduce the likelihood of accidents.
Forty-five children and young people have died and more than 400 have been seriously injured on farms in the last ten years.
By working through the list below, all those involved in farming should be able to help prevent accidents to children and young people on their farm.
General Hazards
- Make all young people, including visitors, aware of the hazardous areas of the farm. Use warning signs to help you.
- Establish rules about what young people can and can’t do on the farm.
- Keep track of where family members are playing or working and when they are expected to return.
- Supervise young people when they are helping on the farm.
- Store guns and ammunition in a locked strong room or cabinet.
- Ensure chemicals and pesticides are correctly labelled and locked away.
Machinery and Vehicles
- Ensure all vehicles, especially their braking systems, are properly maintained.
- Check that all mirrors are clean and properly adjusted. Consider fitting CCTV cameras to help eliminate the driver’s blind spots.
- Remove keys from machinery and vehicles when parked or standing idle. Always apply the parking brake.
- Keep all keys in a secure place out of reach of children.
- Lower implements to the ground and lock cab doors when tractors are parked.
- Ensure that guards are in place to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery, especially exposed rotating shafts. Every PTO shaft must be fully enclosed within a robust guard.
- Do not allow children and young people to play on or near tractors or other agricultural machines. Children under 13 years old must not drive or operate tractors or other farm machinery. Children under 13 years old must not ride as passengers on tractors, ATVs or other farm machinery. Children 13 years old and over can only ride on a tractor if a passenger seat and seat belt are fitted and the seat belt is worn.
- Do not allow children under 16 years old to operate an ATV. If the child is 16 or over, they must wear a suitable helmet and be properly trained. Remember that everyone must be trained and competent to do the tasks they are required to carry out on a farm. Training may have to be tailored to suit children and young people as they only have a limited awareness of risks and are both physically and mentally immature.
Livestock
- Prevent children and young people from playing in or around livestock areas.
- Provide adult supervision when children come into contact with farm animals.
- Make sure all fences, gates and pens are sturdy and kept in good repair.
- Securely fence all slurry pits/lagoons to prevent children and young people falling into them. Ensure tank covers are always in place.
- Always wash your hands after handling livestock, and ensure children do the same if they have been in contact with livestock too
Farmyard and outbuildings
- Plan traffic routes to avoid reversing vehicles. Direct traffic away from the farmhouse or any area where children are present/playing. Where possible adopt a one-way system.
- Provide drivers with a clear view at corners and entrances. Install mirrors to increase visibility if necessary.
- Warn drivers that children may be in the area. Display suitable warning signs.
- Keep the farmyard clear and tidy.
- Secure all heavy wheels and gates or store them flat on the ground.
- Stack all materials and goods to prevent them from toppling over and make sure they are kept this way. Arrange stacks to prevent children climbing to high places.
- Avoid openings in the sides of haystacks or straw stacks that could be used as dens.
- Store all ladders securely to prevent unauthorised use.
- Keep stores closed and locked when not in use.
- Unplug all portable tools and appliances when not in use and store them out of reach of young people.
Emergencies
- Make all arrangements for summoning help if there is an emergency. Make sure all family members know what to do.
- Prepare a list of emergency telephone numbers and display them where everyone can see it.
- Make sure that someone on the farm has had basic first-aid training and is able to carry out resuscitation if required.
- Provide first-aid kits to treat minor injuries. Minor wounds should be washed with clean water and covered with a suitable dressing.
- Children and young persons should be supervised at all times when in the farmyard
