The spring-calving season is well under way on farms across the country with over half a million calves already being born. With this comes an increased workload for farmers and increases the likelihood of an accident on the farm.

With Covid-19 restrictions remaining in place until at least April 5 and schools returning on a phased basis meaning children will continue to be present on farms, now more than ever the safety of children on the farm should be at forefront of farmers’ minds.

Health and Safety Authority (HSA) figures tell us that sadly 21 children lost their lives as a result of farm accidents in the past 10 years.

The figures also tell us that over 80% of childhood deaths on farms had a farm vehicle or a machine involved. We must do better and we must protect children during the lockdown period.

We must think about how we manage our farms and how we can safely involve children and young adults in farming activities.

A safe and secure play area for young children is vital where children are present. Farm dwellings and farmyards can sometimes be very close together so a safe and secure play area is very important.

Tractor driving

Moreover a child or young person aged 14 or over should only be permitted to drive a tractor or self-propelled machine on the farm, if:

They have attended a formal training course run by a competent training provider;
They are closely supervised by a responsible adult;
They have the ability to operate the controls with ease;
All the controls are conveniently accessible for safe operation by the operator when seated in the driver’s seat;
The controls which operate the power take off (PTO) devices, hydraulic devices and engine cut-off are clearly marked to show the effect of their operation;
The tractor is maintained so that it is safe for them to operate;
The ground over which the tractor is driven is free from hazards such as steep slopes or excavations, river banks, lake or pond edges, deep ditches and similar areas.