Farming More Dangerous for Children This Time of Year, IOSH Warns
With most schools out of session during the summer, it creates more chances for danger on the farm. "It's worth looking around your farm with a child's view of the world," said Alan Plom, IOSH's Rural Industries Group vice-chair.
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) claims the summer season brings more opportunities for children to be in danger on farms, and the organization is urging farmers and their families to be more aware, according to a news release on its site.
The statement says agricultural machinery serves as a source of curiosity for children and can draw them toward eventual work areas. Because of the difference in size, young people can sometimes be hard to see, resulting in dangers such as being struck by large, moving vehicles.
"Every death in a workplace is a tragedy, but this can be particularly hard when it's a child and a member of the family on their home farm," said IOSH Rural Industries Group Vice-Chair Alan Plom.
Plom mentioned the fact that school scheduling was originally planned around the harvest so farmers could have extra sets of hands. He also discussed the effect a seemingly typical injury could have on a child. "Although farm workers might be familiar about the risks posed to them, they might not have thought that the threats could be different for children," said Plom. "For example, if a propped-up gate, tractor wheel, or other such piece of equipment was knocked and fell on an adult, it might cause a minor injury, but to a young person it might be fatal. It's worth looking around your farm with a child's view of the world."