Farmers told to safeguard children during school holidays

Posted 02/08/2009

Families who own agricultural property have been told to ensure their children remain safe during the school break.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), many children live on farms with their parents, which means they often spend time in a working environment during the summer holidays.

The regulator warned that this could leave children vulnerable to personal injury if adequate safety precautions are not taken.

It has therefore urged parents to provide their sons and daughters with a securely fenced play area where they can be kept busy.

The HSE added that if young people are given tasks on the farm, they should be closely supervised, and if necessary, given the correct training and personal protective equipment.

Figures from the watchdog show that over the last decade, 43 under-18s have died as a result of a work-related incident in agriculture, while many others have undergone an amputation because of a farmyard accident.

HSE statistics also show that while less than 1.5 per cent of the UK’s working population is employed in the sector, agriculture accounts for nearly a fifth of all workplace deaths every year.