Farming families urged to prioritise safety this summer

AS schools break for the summer holidays, the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) has renewed calls for farming families to take precautions to protect children from the dangers that exist in the farmyard.

The reminder comes as one of the busiest seasons on farm gets underway. Commenting Colin Smith, LMC Chief Executive said, “Over the summer months farms become increasingly busy with silage, slurry and livestock frequently on the move. It is also typically a time when contractors are visiting farms and there is a greater presence of fast-moving machinery. This increases risks for children and visitors to the farm.

“Children are naturally inquisitive and keen to help out on the farm, we want to encourage them to learn about farming and food production, but this must be done in a safe and supervised way. Fundamentally there must be a distinction between safe play areas and the farmyard, which is a functioning workplace. The safest farms are not the ones where children are kept completely isolated from farming, but where risks are identified, measures are put in place to improve safety and children are educated at an age-appropriate level about hazards.”

Enhancing farm safety-related practices has been an important part of LMC’s work for many years. Colin explained that recent reviews of the Northern Ireland Beef and Lamb Farm Quality Assurance Scheme (NIBLFQAS) have served to put a number of key safety-related practises at the very heart of the management standards expected of local cattle and sheep farmers. Additionally, as an affiliate member of the Farm Safety Partnership (FSP) LMC engages with industry partners to actively promote safe working practices on an ongoing basis.

Colin continued, “Sadly each year children are seriously injured in accidents on farms. Simple steps such as closing gates and removing keys from machinery can make all the difference. As a parent I know that young children do not always fully appreciate the dangers around them, I’d encourage farming families to take a fresh look at your farmyard through a child’s eyes, identify any potential risks and act now to prevent accidents occurring. Taking a few moments now to make small changes can have a massive impact, prevent accidents and perhaps ultimately save lives.”