Farm Safety
The Facts
- Every year, over 120 children are killed from injuries on the farm. About 12,000 children experience serious injuries. These injuries are caused by risks like tractors, machinery, large animals and ATVs.
- Parents can help children stay safe by assigning tasks that are age-appropriate, teaching children to do those tasks properly, and watching to be sure kids are ready to do those tasks safely before they do them unsupervised.
What parents can do
- Only allow age-appropriate tasks on the farm.
- Teach your child the task.
- Be prepared in case of an emergency.
Only allow age-appropriate tasks on the farm
- Do not have children try to do things that are beyond their ability to do safely.
- To learn what work tasks are age-appropriate, check out this guide from Cultivate Safety.
- Keep play areas separate from work areas.
- To learn what non-work tasks are age-appropriate, click here.
Teach your child the task
- Show them the important parts of the job and have them practice. Then, watch them do the task several times. Make sure they know how to do it safely before you let them do it alone. Give frequent breaks – children have a shorter attention span than adults and need breaks often.
- Praise children when you see them using safe behaviors, and correct them when needed. Being specific when you praise kids helps them to learn.
For example, when your child washes up after feeding the cows, you can say “Great job washing up after feeding the cows kiddo! I love to see you following the safety rules!”
- Praise children when you see them using safe behaviors, and correct them when needed. Being specific when you praise kids helps them to learn.
- When children are too young to work on the farm, or are taking a break from their chores, they need a separate and safe place to play. Play doesn’t mix with farm equipment, animals, or vehicles. And of course, the youngest children will require careful supervision while playing on the farm.
- Keep supervising even when they do the job alone – check on your child periodically to make sure they continue to do the job safety.
Here is a guide from Cultivate Safety to help determine if your child is ready for the job.
Be prepared in case of an emergency
- Have a safety plan. Plan what to do and who to contact when an emergency occurs. Download this workbook to help create your safety plan: Farm Safety Plan Workbook created by the Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health.
- Keep a well supplied first aid kit and know how to use it. For more information on how how to create your first aid kit, check out this guide: Farm Emergency and First Aid Kit from the National Ag Safety Database.
- Know basic first aid to practice until help arrives. This guide from Cultivate Safety will teach you Farmer’s First Aid and how to stop bleeding.
Is this task age appropriate?
Farm Map
Explore the potential hazards in the farm using the map:
Resources
CultivateSafety.org
Easy access, agricultural safety information and resources for farmers, ranchers, supervisors and media from the The National Farm Medicine Center and National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety
SaferFarm.org
Online tool for agricultural health and safety knowledge from the National Farm Medicine Center, Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation
The Center for Food Security and Public Health
Checklist to prepare for emergencies on the farm from the Center for Food Security and Public Health and the Multi-State Partnership for Security in Agriculture
Farm Emergency Preparedness guide and Emergency Contact Form
Farm Emergency Preparedness guide and Emergency Contact Form from the Center for Food Security and Public Health and the Multi-State Partnership for Security in Agriculture
US Dept of Labor - Youth in Agriculture eTool
eTool that employers and young workers can use to avoid injury by learning about common agricultural hazards and safety solutions from the US Dept of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Farm Safety Plan Workbook
Downloadable Farm Safety Plan Workbook from the Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health
Farm First Aid Kit guide
A guide to creating your Farm First Aid Kit from the National Ag Safety Database
ATV Safety & Youth
All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Safety and Youth: A Q&A with Dr. Charles Jennissen, a pediatric emergency medicine physician in the University of Iowa Department of Emergency Medicine and the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics who experienced an All Terrain Vehicle-related tragedy
KidsHealth.org
All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) safety info for parents and teens from Nemours Teen Health
SafeKids.org
All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle (ROV) Safety Tip Sheet from Safe Kids World Wide
FodSports.com
All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Helmet Size Chart from FodSports.com
Extension.UMaine.edu
Guide to choosing the right respirator to protect from chemical pesticide exposure from The University of Maine