Farm safely a priority this summer, says Westmeath IFA county chairperson
As the summer days get longer, temperatures (hopefully) begin to rise, and children are on their school holidays, Bernie McCarthy, Westmeath IFA county chairperson, said how this time of year presents particular risks on farms.
She outlined the steps we should all take to ensure the entire family stays safe on the farm this summer.
Keeping children safe on the farm
While children look forward to being home on the farm for the summer, now is an important time to have conversations about safety. Tell them about the dangers and set the rules. But don’t expect a child to take on the responsibility of keeping themselves safe. Children do not understand risk.
Farms can be family homes as well as workplaces, and children are often present. Tragically, between 2011 and 2020, in Ireland, 21 children lost their lives due to farm accidents.
Summer is a hazardous time for children on farms as they’re off school and are about more when work activity is running at a very high level - often with contractors on-site operating potentially dangerous vehicles and machinery.
A farm can be a magical place for children, where independence and responsibility are fostered and family relationships are strengthened. Still, it can also be a dangerous place where the unthinkable can happen in a matter of seconds.
Growing up on a farm brings both challenges and blessings. It builds character and a solid work ethic and creates an attitude of optimism, but it also has its dangers, so it is vital to educate children on safety and risks from an early age.
Every possible step must be taken to reduce the number of fatalities each year on Irish farms. The first step is educating people, especially children. If we can instil in their minds, from an early age, an awareness of the dangers on the farm and help them form good farm safety habits, that lesson will be with them for a lifetime.
Ms McCarthy also insists that there is an onus on machinery and tractor drivers to take a safe approach while working these heavy machines and also an onus on cyslists and walkers to be vigilant while using rural roads and be seen using hi-vis jackets.
Top tips to keep children safe on farms this summer:
Farmyards are not playgrounds. Keep children out of work areas and have a fenced-off safe play area in view of the home.
Children must not drive or operate tractors or other farm machinery
Children must not ride as passengers on ATVs.
Children between the ages of 7 and 16 may ride on a tractor provided the tractor is fitted with a properly designed and fitted passenger seat (with seat belts)
Practise what you preach – be a good role model and teach children about the possible dangers.
Have fencing with mesh right down to the ground - so that children cannot slip through gates and fences or climb over them
Have easy to read danger signs and tell children what they mean
NEVER allow children to play, climb or have access to stacks of bales.
Be SunSmart
The IFA and HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) have teamed up to encourage farmers to be SunSmart and to protect their skin from the sun to reduce their risk of skin cancer.
Ms McCarthy said that farmers are exposed to 2-3 times more UV radiation from the sun compared with people who work indoors, putting them at a higher risk of skin cancer.
“To reduce the risk of skin damage, farmers should organise their day so that you are in the shade when UV rays are strongest from 11am to 3pm,” she said.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland, and more than 13,000 new cases diagnosed every year. Nine out of every 10 cases are caused by UV rays from the sun or sunbeds.
“Don’t just wait for hot and sunny days to use sun protection – UV from the sun is damaging, even on cool, cloudy days.
"It is important to protect skin from April to September as you cannot see or feel the UV rays which cause damage to the skin.”