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With summer approaching and children spending more time outdoors, Northern Ireland's Health and Safety Executive (HSENI) has issued a timely reminder to farming families about the importance of keeping children safe on farms. The message comes from Bryan Monson, Deputy Chief Executive of HSENI, who draws on his own childhood on a family farm to highlight both the value and the very real risks of farm life.
Writing in a personal capacity, Monson reflects on growing up on a farm, learning about responsibility, hard work and the pride of family farming though he points out that the most important lesson he learned was understanding that farms can be dangerous places.
"When I was a child helping on our family farm, keeping me safe was always the number one priority," crediting the constant supervision of his grandparents with keeping him from harm, even though at that age he did not fully appreciate the risks posed by machinery, livestock, slurry tanks or moving vehicles.
Monson is keen to stress that farm safety is not about keeping children away from farming life altogether. "The safest farms are not the ones where children are kept away from farming altogether, they're the ones where risks are spotted early, boundaries are clear, and children are taught safely, step by step," he says.
He points to a number of practical measures that can make a significant difference: a secure, designated safe play area, effective supervision and age-appropriate education about hazards. He also recommends a short conversation at the start of each day about where children can and cannot go, and what to do if they are unsure.
Particular care is urged during the busiest periods on the farm, including silage, slurry, lambing and calving, stock movement, deliveries and contractor visits. During these times, if close supervision is not possible, children should be safely occupied away from the working area.
Children under 13 should never drive or ride on tractors, quads or other farm machinery, and should be kept well away from slurry stores and livestock pens. Where older children are helping with farm tasks, those jobs must be suitable for their age, with hazards clearly explained and appropriate protective equipment provided.
Monson acknowledges the difficult reality behind the message. Every year across the island of Ireland, children are seriously injured in farm incidents, and some lose their lives. He describes such incidents as devastating for families and farming communities, and in many cases preventable.
"This summer, I would urge parents, grandparents, and carers to take a fresh look at the farm through a child's eyes," he writes. "Ask yourself where the dangers are, what safeguards are in place, and what changes could prevent an accident."
Farming families seeking further advice can speak to HSENI staff at Stand EK 92 in the Eikon Centre at this year's Balmoral Show, or visit the HSENI website for guidance on farm safety for children.
