With the school summer holidays just around the corner, many children will be spending more time at home – and for farming families, that often means being around the workplace. While children are an important part of running a family farming business, we must remember that farms are working environments. Just like in any other workplace, it’s essential to maintain a clear boundary between work life and home life to keep everyone safe.
Farming businesses are not playgrounds, and children must have somewhere safe and secure to play that is away from working areas. If they do ever need to enter the working environment, full supervision must be provided at all times. These boundaries are especially important during the summer months when farms are particularly active and children are out of school.
Children can operate some agricultural machines once they are over the age of 13, but please don’t be fooled into thinking that just because they are 13, they are ready to take on all farm tasks – they are still children.
The law states that:
There is a legal responsibility to assess all risks to the health and safety of children on farms and protect them from harm at all times.
- By law, any work must be light work and must not be inherently dangerous – this applies to both children helping out on the family farm and those employed for paid work.
- Children employed on farms must have a permit from the local authority. If a child is working without a licence, the employer is breaking the law and will not be insured for any damage or injuries caused or incurred by the child. They also risk legal action.
- All children have different capabilities, which means what each child is allowed or not allowed to do must be assessed on an individual basis. The law says children must not be asked to perform work beyond their abilities.
Guidance on what children aged 13–16 may be able to do is available on the Health and Safety Executive website:
https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg472.pdf
We all have a duty of care to protect children, who are vulnerable because of their age and inexperience. Every employer is legally required to manage these risks.
Important reminders for everyone on the farm:
- All employees must be made aware when a child is present on the farm.
- If a child is found alone in a working area, all activity must stop immediately. The child must be taken to a safe place and supervised by a responsible adult.
Key tips for keeping children safe:
- Stop and think before allowing children into any workplace – farms are dangerous places.
- Adult supervision is essential at all times.
- Children under 13 are not permitted to drive or ride in agricultural machinery.
- Children must wear high-visibility clothing when on the farm.
- All employees and visitors should be informed when children are present.
- A child is killed every year in agricultural work activities.
The agricultural industry is evolving—machinery is bigger, working hours are longer, and the pressures are greater. While children are curious and eager to learn, allowing them into the workplace can expose them to serious danger.
As we head into the school holidays, it’s vital to keep children’s safety front of mind. Talk to them about farm risks, and raise awareness among others working on or visiting the farm.
For further advice on farm safety, please contact our Health and Safety team on 01981 590514.
