Child Safety on the Farm:

Compiled from the Centers for Disease Control, Farm Safety Just 4 Kids (www.fs4jk.org/), and the National Ag Safety Database ( (www.cdc.gov/nasd/)

    Up to 4 years:

• Never have a child as an extra rider on machinery or equipment.

• Lock up chemicals, and use barriers such as fences around ponds or manure piles

• Store ladders appropriately – out of reach of children or securely fastened

• Provide safe play areas and things to play with that are still appealing to children, such as swings, scale models of farm equipment, toys, sandboxes, or playhouses

• Supervise a child at all times.

• Potentially age-appropriate tasks: none – children at this age should not be exposed to work hazards.

    5-9 years:

• Set and enforce rules

• Discuss safe behavior

• Assign and closely supervise age-appropriate chores

• Talk openly about injuries and consequences of actions

• Never assign intense chores that can lead to physical exhaustion, such as hauling bales – this could lead to inattention and other risky behaviors

• Play games that focus on farm safety issues

• Potentially age-appropriate tasks: Short duration tasks that require little to no hand-eye coordination; hand tool projects (no power tools), watering plants, feeding small animals, egg collection, etc.

    10-13 years:

• VERY dangerous age – constant risk taking, easily distracted, and clumsy

• Never assume a child’s size means he or she is capable of certain tasks

• Enroll child in bike safety – require and enforce use of safety helmets

• Set and enforce clear rules

• Provide education on farm hazard prevention. See http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/watch/out/farm_safety.html or http://www.fs4jk.org/     

• Plan increases in chores and responsibilities

• Start with low-risk tasks and gradually increase responsibility and decrease supervision

• Potentially age-appropriate tasks:  Hand raking a lawn, limited power tool use with supervision, lawn mower operation, handle and assist with animals.  

    13-16 years:

• Judge size and age to measure maturity for tasks

• Be consistent with rules

• Provide education with their peers on farm injuries

• Provide ATV training and protective gear. See University of Wyoming publication http://ces.uwyo.edu/PUBS/MP118-1.pdf or www.paatving.com/press/asi/2002_asi_info.asp

• Become involved in 4-H and FFA safety projects

• Potentially age-appropriate tasks: equipment operation and maintenance (with supervision), manual handling of feed and feeding animals.

    16-18 years:

• Provide rules regarding drugs and alcohol; encourage open communication

• Rewards for accepting responsibility

• Serve as role model for younger children

• Potentially age-appropriate tasks: May be ready to work with tractors, self-propelled machinery, etc. 

• Should be trained, educated, and supervised regularly.