Farmyards are not playgrounds – children & young people must always be kept safe on the farm

HSE Press Release: E018:05 - 10 February 2005

An eight-strong partnership of key players in the agricultural industry has launched two new leaflets, one for children and one for adults, aimed at helping to reduce the number of accidents and incidents of ill-health affecting children on farms.

Mike Walters, a Health & Safety Executive (HSE) Inspector seconded to the Transport & General Workers’ Union (TGWU), spearheaded the partnership made up of HSE, TGWU, National Farmers Union (NFU), NFU Mutual, the ADAS rural economy consultancy, Women’s Food & Farming Union (WFU), Farms for Schools and Cardiff University School of Social Sciences.

Mike Walters said: “Agriculture has one of the highest fatal accident rates of any industry in the UK and is also the only high-risk industry that has to deal with the constant presence of children. Farms are homes as well as workplaces and visitors to the countryside, many of whom are children, are often present on farms.

“In the ten years from 1993 to 2003, 45 children were killed on farms and HSE received reports of nearly 400 serious injuries to children, with many more incidents going unreported. Last September a 13-year-old boy was shot dead on farmland in Devon whilst taking part in a fox-shoot. It is extremely important that all adults in the industry take responsibility for keeping children safe and stopping them going to areas where they might be at risk.”

Commenting on the launch of the leaflets, eight members of the partnership said:

“Farms For Schools (FFS) has given great support and assistance to this project, and is committed to cutting the number of accidents and fatalities to children and young people on farms in the UK, as this is a subject that affects every FFS member spread across the country.” Ellen Brookes, of Farms for Schools.

“These excellent leaflets will serve as a timely reminder to us all that the pleasures of being part of our living and working countryside can quickly turn to pain if our young people are unaware of the hazards that can occur.” Pat Stanley, of NFU.

“Farms are workplaces, but unique workplaces as they are also our homes. All of us parents welcome anything that creates awareness in both adults and children of dangers that may not be obvious to us as we live and work within that familiar environment. Work, Rest and Play safely every day.” Julie Thomas, of WFU.

“The continuing toll of death, injury and ill-health for young people on farms is a vivid scar running across our industry. It requires a united assault by employers, workers and enforcers to tackle the root causes and bring this miserable tale of woe to an end. These publications are an indispensable weapon in that campaign.” Chris Kaufman, of TGWU.

“As the UK's largest agricultural insurer and risk adviser, we're all too aware of the hazards faced by children on modern farms and are delighted to be back this initiative.” David Leavesley, of NFU Mutual.

“We are delighted to support the production of these leaflets, it demonstrates that we can all work together as part of a drive to eliminate the appalling tragedy of children being hurt or killed on farms. The leaflets will be used across all our farms and they will be recommended to our farming customers to remind parents and children of the hazards that are potentially lurking on the farm.” David Knowles, of ADAS.

Mike Walters concluded by saying: “Everyone involved in the agricultural industry should be working together in partnership to improve the health and safety of children on farms. We must all strive to ensure that there are ZERO fatal accidents to children on farms each year.”

The leaflets, Be responsible: keep children safe on your farm, and Farms are not playgrounds: 10 ways you can get hurt on the farm, are available from the HSE website . They will also be available from the websites of each of the partner organisations.

Notes to editors

1. A survey of deaths since 1993 reveals that 45 children under 18 years of age have been killed in the past ten years. The major causes of fatal injuries to children and young people continue to be: struck by moving vehicle, drowning/asphyxiation, struck by moving object, fall from height, contact with machinery and fire.

2. In June 2000 HSE launched two publications to help reduce injuries and fatalities to children in the agriculture industry, Preventing Accidents to Children on Farms, which uses examples of actual incidents to help parents understand what can happen so they can avoid dangerous practices, and Stay Safe In Farming, a children’s interactive magazine style booklet packed with fun games for children aged between five and nine, designed to help them realise the dangers which can threaten them.

3. Preventing Accidents to Children on Farms (leaflet As10), is available online at: http://books.hse.gov.uk. The leaflet supports the Approved Code of Practice Preventing Accidents to Children in Agriculture (L116), available from HSE Books, ISBN 0 7176 1690 8, price £5.50.

5. Information on the work of the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) in the agricultural industry can be found at: www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture

6. Information on the work of the Transport & General Workers’ Union (TGWU) can be found at: http://www.tgwu.org.uk Since the TGWU was formed, one of its goals has been to secure greater protection for children on farms. A key objective has been to prevent children under 16 years old from working on farms altogether. In addition, the TGWU want to see the rural and farming culture shift so that farms stop being regarded as an extension of the home and, by association, a fit place for children to be.

7. Information on the work of the National Farmers Union (NFU) can be found at: www.nfuonline.com

8. Information on the work of the Women’s Food & Farming Union (WFU) can be found at: www.wfu.org.uk

9. Information on the work of NFU Mutual can be found at: www.nfumutual.co.uk

10. Information on the work of Farms for Schools can be found at: www.farmsforschools.org.uk

11. Information on the work of ADAS can be found at: www.adas.co.uk

12. Information on the work of Cardiff University School of Social Sciences can be found at: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/

13. Further information on the research work being undertaken by Mike Walters can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/secondment.htm

Press enquiries

All enquiries from journalists should be directed to the HSE Press Office