CHILD SAFETY ON THE FARM

 

Thousands of children are injured and hundreds are killed every year by hazards found on the farm.  Some of these children are working on the farm while others wander into trouble on their own or are invited into hazardous areas.  Implement injury prevention strategies today to protect agriculture’s greatest resource—our children.

·       Design a safe play area that is fenced on your farm.  This area should be near the house and away from work activities.  Do not allow children to roam freely on the farm.

·       Inspect your farm on a regular basis for hazards that can injure someone wandering on your farm—such as a child.  Correct obvious hazards at once.

·       Children who are physically able to become involved in farm work should be assigned age-appropriate tasks.  These tasks should be preceded by training and continual reinforcement of training.  Supervision should be maintained all the time.

·       Equip all barns, farm shop, chemical storage, livestock pens, etc. with latches that can be locked or secured so children may not enter at anytime.

·       Always turn-off equipment, lower hydraulics and remove the key before leaving it unattended.

·       Do not expose children to hazards.  Never carry them on tractors and equipment or invite them into the farm shop, livestock barns, grain bins, etc.

Inspection

___Y  ___N  Designated “safe play area”

___Y  ___N  Equipment guards in place

___Y  ___N  Hazardous work areas locked

___Y  ___N  Farm ponds and pits fenced