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HomeFarming News‘Never allow children to get close to potentially dangerous farm animals’
Catherina Cunnane
Catherina Cunnanehttps://www.thatsfarming.com/
Catherina Cunnane hails from a sixth-generation drystock and specialised pedigree suckler enterprise in Co. Mayo. She currently holds the positions of editor and general manager at That's Farming, having joined the firm during its start-up phase in 2015.
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‘Never allow children to get close to potentially dangerous farm animals’

Child safety on farms

Every child loves being on the farm, but while it can be a place of great fun and excitement, it can also be an extremely dangerous environment.

All too often, children have access to the entire farm and view it as one big play space.

You must teach children about farm dangers and keep them away from jobs and operations taking place on the farm that cause the most risk.

Those are the key messages that the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland conveyed to the farming community at this year’s Balmoral Show.

The purpose of this year’s showcase was to stress the importance of recognising the dangers to children on our farms.

This remains a “strategic key” focus for HSENI and the Farm Safety Partnership.

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Child safety on farms 

Chief executive Robert Kidd said:

“HSENI is asking the farming community to educate your children about what the hazards are on the farm. You should find ways to reduce the risk in these potentially dangerous areas. Examples include using fences and locks and removing keys to machinery and vehicles.”

“It is impossible to make your farm completely safe, but always keep children away from moving machines, particularly during silage making, slurry operations and harvesting and never allowing children to get close to potentially dangerous farm animals such as bulls are very simple precautions farm families can take to keep their children safe.”

“Sadly, when something goes wrong, a few seconds is all it takes to change lives forever. I am urging the farming community to take a moment to think about the safety of children. Implement simple measures so that your family have a happy and safe summer on the farm.”

New farm safety sticker competition

Farmers4Safety and AgriKids have joined forces to launch a farm safety sticker competition entitled ‘Stick 2 Safety’.

The competition calls on Ireland’s communities to help create a safer future on our farms by designing a window sticker.

Read more on this.

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