Farmers are reminded to prioritize child safety in the coming months as many children are likely to take on more farming roles this summer.
According to the Northern Ireland Health and Safety Executive (Hosseini)Farms can provide valuable life experiences for children, but they can also carry significant risks.
Brian Munson, executive vice president of the HSENI Foundation, noted that while farming can teach responsibility and work ethic from an early age, safety should “always be the first priority.”
“Farms are great places for children to grow up, and for many, a farm is part playground, part classroom, part workplace,” said Monson, who comes from a farming background.
“But there are also hidden dangers that can have life-changing consequences in seconds.”
The Executive Vice President of HSENI stressed that close supervision is simply the most effective way to prevent accidents involving children on farms.
“What kept me safe was the constant supervision of my grandparents,” Munson recalls of his childhood.
“They were always watching me closely, knowing where I was, what I was doing, and who I was with.
He added: “They did not hesitate to intervene if I deviated from what I was told or did not realize my limits; looking back, I realize that their vigilance was protecting me from dangers that I was too young to understand.”
Risks
Children often don’t fully understand the dangers posed by machinery, livestock or mud, Munson explained, highlighting the importance of adult supervision on farms.
HSENI encouraged families to also focus on practical measures that can significantly reduce risks.
“The safest farms are not those where children are kept out of farming altogether – but rather those where risks are detected early, boundaries are clear, and children are taught safely, step by step,” Munson commented.
Key recommendations from HSENI include creating safe play areas for young children, setting clear rules and ensuring they receive age-appropriate guidance about the dangers of the farm.
“A short conversation at the start of the day about where you can go, where you can’t go, and what to do if you’re not sure, can prevent a serious accident later,” the executive vice president added.
Busy periods
Special care is needed during busy periods, such as silage season, slurry spreading, calving or lambing, when activity levels on farms increase.
Munson advised farmers that if close supervision is not possible during these times, children should be kept away from work areas.
“Children under the age of 13 should not drive or ride tractors, ATVs or other agricultural machinery,” he went on to say.
Hosseini also warned that children of this age “should remain healthy and away from mud warehouses and livestock pens.”
“If older children are helping with these jobs, these tasks should be age-appropriate, with risks clearly explained and appropriate protective equipment provided,” the report said.
Preventable tragedies
Despite ongoing awareness efforts, serious incidents involving children still occur on farms every year, Monson said.
“Unfortunately, every year on our island, children are seriously injured in accidents on farms – and some of them tragically lose their lives.
“These incidents are devastating to families and farming communities, and in many cases they are preventable.”
This summer, Munson urged families to re-evaluate their farms from a child safety perspective.
“Take a fresh look at the farm through a child’s eyes. Ask yourself where the risks lie, what safeguards are in place, and what changes could prevent an accident.
“Because sometimes the simplest actions — like locking a gate, locking a key, creating a safe play space, or stopping to supervise — can make a big difference.
“And when it comes to the safety of children on farms, those small actions matter more than anything else.”
For anyone looking for more advice, HSENI will be present at this year’s Balmoral, where its stand can be found at stand EK 92 at the Eikon Centre.
Additional information is also available on the HSENI website.
