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AgriKids Flogas Farm Safety Handbook
Full of helpful hints, activities and games. This fun resource has something for everyone!
Webinar: 8+ - Farm Safe Together
Ideal for budding farmers aged 8-12 years, this fun event will include fun & helpful tips regarding safety around tractors, quads, machinery, slurry & livestock. Plenty of tips to help our aspiring farmers by safer farmers.
Farm Safe Activity Sheets - 8-12yo
For our slightly older farmers to be, use our resources to kick start the farm safety conversation in your home!
Farm Safe Activity Sheets - 4-7yo
For ages 4-12 years. Kick start the farm safety conversation in your home with our fun and educational resources.
Webinar: 4-7yo - Farm Safe Story Time
AgriKids Webinar Quizes
After viewing our webinar, children can test their knowledge with this fun quiz. (For Parents: Don't worry the answer sheet also available to download!)
Touchscreen games
App Download
Download on Android
Open Play Store
Download on iOS
Open App StoreTake a trip to Riverside Farm andshare in the adventures of Tom, Sarah and their magical friend, Mr. Brambles,the hedge sprite.
Free todownload, children can start playing and learning immediately!
Test their speed and accuracy andenter the world of AgriKids.
Choose from a great variety offun and interactive games such as;
· Dodge the Dangers (Free)
· Blackberry Picking
· Stop the Bales
Farm Safety Stats
Main causes of deaths in Agriculture and Forestry over the last 10 years 2011-2020
(source: www.hsa.ie)
Death by age group
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Death of Older Farmer (>65yrs)
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Deaths in Farming
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Deaths of Children
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Livestock
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Tractors & Vehicles
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Useful Links
Agri Aware is a charitable trust that is funded by the farming and agri-food industry who recognised a growing need for an independent body to provide the general public with information and education on the importance of agriculture and food to the Irish economy.
The Authority was established in 1989 under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989 and reports to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. The Authority has a number of major roles. Their mission is to protect people from death, injury and ill-health arising from all work activities and chemicals
Jessy's Smart Kids are a range of child friendly publications created by AgriKids for Teagasc.
IWS strives to reduce water fatalities by increasing water safety awareness and by changing attitudes and behaviours
Open Your Eyes to Farm Safety - Great video by Nenagh CBS, highlighting key dangers on the farm. Suitable for 4-6 class students.
From Agri Aware - Once Upon A Farm is a child safety drama, aimed at communicating the importance of farm and countryside safety to primary level students.
The Health and Safety Executive, NI, is responsible for workplace safety in Northern Ireland.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has a number of major roles. Their mission is to protect people from death, injury and ill-health arising from all work activities and chemicals
The IFA is Ireland’s largest farming representative organisation.
The FBD Trust support initiatives that Irish farmers, their families, communities and the Irish agricultural industry.
Irish Water Safety (IWS), strives to reduce water fatalities by increasing water safety awareness, changing attitudes & behaviours so that water can be enjoyed with confidence and safety.
The Yellow Wellies Foundation is a charity which supports the physical and mental wellbeing of the UK’s farmers.
Embrace FARM was founded in 2014 to provide a bereavement support group for farm families who have lost a loved one or suffered serious injury in a farming accident.
Jessy's Smart Kids are a range of child friendly publications created by AgriKids for Teagasc.
Created by the students in Nenagh C.B.S. This great video highlights key dangers on the farm. Suitable for 4-6 class students.
Childhood Agricultural Safety Network (CASN) is a coalition of organisations in the US that work together to help keep children safe on the farm
Teagasc is Ireland's national body providing integrated research, advisory and training services to the agriculture and food industry and rural communities.
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The Road Safety Authority has a simple mission statement – ‘ to make roads safer for everyone’.
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Farm Safety Circle
Use the resources on this page to learn more on the topic of farm safety.
Fields – Are there warning signs?
AgriKids:
- Always look out for signs that warn you of any dangers.
- If there is a warning sign in place, STAY AWAY.
- Stay out of fields that have a bull or cows with young calves grazing.
Parents
- Always look out for signs that warn you of any dangers.
- If there is a warning sign in place, STAY AWAY.
- Stay out of fields that have a bull or cows with young calves grazing.
Animals – They can injure or even kill
AgriKids:
- Remember farm animals are not pets.
- Other animals such as bulls and boars can be very aggressive and dangerous, their large size also means they can run very fast.
- Always approach them from the front so they can see what you are doing.
- If you want to approach an animal, ask an adult who knows the animal to approach it with you. The animal will be less nervous and less likely to become upset.
- Never approach a farm animal when they are with their young, they are very protective and can attack.
- Always wear a helmet, back protector and other protective clothing when riding a horse.
- After you’ve been around farm animals, be sure to wash your hands with warm water and soap – germs can carry from animals to you!
Parents:
- Explain the dangers of farm animals to your children.
- Be extra vigilant during lambing, calving and foaling season when once placid animals can become more aggressive and unpredictable.
- Enforce hand washing after contact – Zoonoses are diseases passed from animals to humans.
- Reduce the risk of infection vaccinating and wearing protective clothing when handling animals or potentially infected material such as afterbirth or faeces.
Videos
This is Ann's story
Roads – Stop and wait!
AgriKids:
- Always walk on the right hand side of the road and cycle on the left.
- Don’t forget your cycling helmet!
- NEVER take a lift from a stranger and stand in when a vehicle approaches.
- When crossing always follow the SAFE CROSS CODE.
ONE – look for a safe place
TWO – don’t hurry stop and wait
THREE – look all around and listen before you cross the road, remember
FOUR – let all the traffic pass you
FIVE – then walking straight across you
SIX – Keep watching, that’s the SAFE CROSS CODE
Source: www.rsa.ie
Parents:
- Organise a family walk and practice the safe cross code.
- Always insist you and your family wear hi vis clothing.
Visit:
Machinery – Stay back!
AgriKids:
- Farm machinery is very powerful and must only be operated by a fully trained adult.
- Some machines can catch you or your clothes if you get too near, and this can cause a serious accident.
- Power Take Off devices (PTO’s), can rotate at 2.4 metres per second, never stand too close and make sure your clothing is tied and not flapping.
- PTO guards should always be in place and in perfect working order.
- If you want a closer look only do so with a grown up and when the machine is not in use.
- NEVER try to start or use farm machinery alone.
Parents:
Remember, younger members often follow the work habits of adults, so make sure you lead by example.
- Keep children away from farm machinery when it is in use.
- Be sure PTO shields are in place and in good condition.
- PTO guards must be in place
- Start and stop the PTO from the tractor seat.
- Do not wear lose fitted clothing.
- Detach or remove draw strings from sweatshirts and jackets.
- Tie back long hair.
- Never walk over a PTO – Walk around it.
Download:
Safe use of tractors and machinery
Video
This is William's story
Slurry – One Breath Can Kill!
AgriKids:
- Slurry is the waste, (or poop), from farm animals, mostly cattle. It is used on farms as fertilizer for the soil.
- It is normally stored in a large pit.
- In large quantities and in enclosed spaces it produces deadly gases, ONE lungful of this gas can kill you!
- You can also drown in slurry if you fall in.
- Sometimes a hard crust can form on the surface of a slurry pit, so NEVER run or walk across it. The surface can be thin and it can break under your weight.
- ‘Agitating’ slurry means the mixing or churning of slurry to prepare it for spreading on fields as fertiliser.
- Agitation should be done on windy days
Parents:
- Children and pets should never be in the vicinity during slurry agitation or spreading.
- Animals should be taken out of sheds before agitation starts.
- Agitate slurry on windy days if possible.
- Agitation points should be located outside of the building.
- Do not enter house for at least 30 minutes after agitation commences.
Download:
HSENI Working safely with slurry
Take time to view the H.S.A video on slurry safety:
All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) – what are you wearing?
AgriKids:
- In Ireland you must to be over the age of 16 and have suitable training and supervision to drive an ATV (quad) on a farmyard.
- Users must wear PPE
- No passengers are peritted.
- Always consider the risk of overturning on sloping ground.
Parents:
- All ATV drivers should wear a helmet and protective clothing.
- Never speed on an ATV (Quad) and always corner carefully.
- No passengers are permitted on an ATV.
Download:
HSA Safe use of Quad Bikes (ATV)
Video
Former president of the IFA, John Dillon, shares his story
Farm Yards – Do not enter alone!
AgriKids:
- Never enter a farm yard without telling the farmer.
- While on a farm listen and do what the farmer tells you.
- Stay aware and alert to any hazards that may cause you to trip or injure yourself.
Parents:
- Warning signage should be in place for hazardous areas.
- Farm yards should be kept tidy and free from any hazards that may cause you to trip and fall.
- Adequate lighting is essential in areas used after dark.
- All chemicals and machinery should be stored away.
Download:
Electricity – Know the risks!
AgriKids:
- Keep away from fallen electricity wires.
- Never touch or come near fallen electricity wires.
- Always tell an adult if you see any fallen wires.
Parents:
Risk: Unsafe and faulty electrical installations
- Electrical fittings on a farm should be checked regularly. With so much dust, water, not to mention the possible damage caused by animals and machinery, having incorrect fittings can result in accident and injury.
- Make sure sockets are properly insulated and maintained
- Only ever use a qualified electrician when carrying out electrical jobs on the farm
Risk: When machines are working near overhead power lines
Farm machinery such as combine harvesters, tipping trailers and moving high loads can cause major risks if there are overhead power lines.
Farmers must be extra vigilant and ensure that poles, stay-wires and protective earth wires (attached to poles) are not damaged during farming work.
Previous causes of accidents on Irish farms were from:
- Welding in a farm shed.
- Electric fence connected to 230 Volts ac rather than through the electric fence unit.
- Milking machine became live due to faulty wiring.
- A silage harvester made contact with a 10,000 volt (10kV) overhead power line.
- Cutting timber close to a 20,000 volt (20kV) overhead power line.
- Power washing a cow shed using an extension lead.
Remember:
In the event of fallen or exposed wires contact your local electricity network provider. In Ireland this is ESB Networks: 1850 372 999
Source: www.esbnetworks.ie
Download:
ESB Farm Safely with Electricity
Videos
Tractors – Know the blind spots
AgriKids:
- Never stand near a tractor or any farm machinery that is in use.
- As drivers sit up high they may not see you until it is too late.
- You are not allowed to ride in a tractor if you are under 7 years of age.
- Tractors are also very noisy and the driver will not hear you, only approach a tractor that is stopped, engine switched off and bucket or loader has been placed on the ground.
- If you are over 7 you can travel in a tractor with a suitable seat and safety belt.
Parents:
- No child under the age of 7* is permitted in a tractor that is in use.
- Ensure you have suitable safety belts on passenger seats.
- All passengers should wear a hi visibility vest.
- When not in use ensure the hand brake is on and fork / bucket is placed back on the ground.
*Irish regulations - www.hsa.ie
Download
Videos
Kerrie's Story
In the UK you must be 13 or older to travel in a tractor (and only if a passenger seat and belt are present). Listen to Gregg's story.
You – Be Alert, Be Aware!
AgriKids:
- If you see anything that you believe is dangerous or could cause harm tell a grown up.
- Know where the dangers are:
- Tractors – if they’re in use, stay back.
- Machinery – it’s big, it’s loud, it’s not for you.
- Animals – lovely to look at, but can be cranky – don’t get a nip, a kick or a puck from a mammy cow or mare.
- Slurry pits – one breath can kill.
- Water – keep the swimming for the swimming pools and paddling for the ponds.
- Chemicals – know your toxic signs for more see our ‘chemicals‘ section.
- Remember: Be Farm Safe, Stay Farm Safe.
Parents:
- Encourage your children to be vigilant to the potential dangers and hazards.
- For great tips see our section in ‘Learning‘.
FARMERS – You must take personal responsibility for safety on your farm!
- Farm Safety starts and finishes with you!
- Always think about and build farm safety into every job.
- Think about what could go wrong and take action to stay safe.
- Plan farm safety for 5 minutes every day.
- For unusual jobs, step back for a minute and make sure it can be done safely.
- Make sure you don’t give bad example to your children.
Download:
Videos
Wise words from top AgriKid, Roisin
Chemicals – Know the toxic signs!
AgriKids:
How do you know if something is dangerous to touch or smell? The label may read “caution,” “poison,” or “danger.” Some of these chemicals are toxic (tok-sik) or poisonous.
Chemicals may cause death or serious injury in different ways –
- Learn the signs.
- Inhalation (breathed in).
- Ingestion (swallowed).
- Absorption (soaks into your skin or eyes).
Parents:
The effects may range from irritation, allergy and poisoning, permanent damage to internal organs and death.
- All chemicals should be kept in a locked store away from children.
- They should be kept in their correct containers, correctly and clearly labelled.
- No one under 16 years should handle chemicals.
- Follow the instructions given carefully when handling and storing chemicals.
- All equipment used should be maintained and in safe working order e.g. nap sack sprayers.
- Only protective equipment of suitable quality should be used.
- Wash hands and exposed skin immediately after use.
- Dispose of containers in a safe eco-friendly way.
Download:
Teagasc Pesticide Code of Practice
Videos
Remember how toxic slurry gas can be! Here's Noel's story
Injury – know your first aid and first response
AgriKids:
- Do you know where the first aid kit is
- Do you know the number to ring in the event of an emergency
- Do you know your Eircode? (this helps the emergency services find you!)
Parents:
- Print and Download our ‘Emergency First Aid and Response’ flier.
This vital two page flier has been supplied to us by Work Wise. - Inform your children of what to do in the event of an emergency
- Make sure you know your Eircode and have it pinned up next to phones or stored on mobile phones.
- Ensure you know your general first aid
- Is your first aid kit well stocked & accessible
- Keep a list of emergency numbers Remember
- Call your emergency numbers: 999 or 112 for help
- Assess the situation – how did it happen
- Approach the injured person calmly and remove any hazards
- Act – Delegate tasks until help arrives (ambulance directions, keeping injured warm, etc.
- Organise some first aid training for your home, farm, stud, etc. It may be life saving investment some day!
Download:
Emergency First Aid
Rivers, lakes & waterholes– Prevent drowning – Fence off!
AgriKids:
Drowning on farms can happen in many areas
Stay away from:
- Slurry pits
- Waterholes
- Rivers
- Grain stores
- Water troughs
- Open barrels
- Ditches
- Streams
- Grain silos
- Sheep dip tanks
- Irrigation reservoirs
- Open wells
- Be extra careful of Weils disease which is spread in the urine of infected animals (wild and domestic) and in water or soil contaminated with infected urine.
Parents:
- Speak to your children about the dangers and staying safe when near slurry or water.
- Animals should not have direct access to rivers or streams.
- All water areas must be fenced and kept safely.
- Sheep dips, water barrels and water tanks should be kept properly covered when not in use.
Know the symptoms of Weils disease which may include:
- fever
- headaches
- chills
- severe muscle pain in the calves and thighs
- vomiting
- diarrhoea and
- bloodshot eyes
- Sometimes the fever may fluctuate and other symptoms such as a rash, jaundice, confusion, depression, kidney failure, liver failure and meningitis may occur. The incubation period is usually 10 days but can range from 4 to 19 days. If Symptoms persist please contact your G.P.
Download:
Video
James' story told by his dad Padraig.
Climbing – prevent falls from ladders, bales, silage pits……
AgriKids:
- Climbing can be dangerous and cause you to fall and hurt yourself.
- So stay away from ladders and bales, pallets, tyres or anything else that you might find piled up on the farm.
- Bales, pallets and tyres are often very wobbly and can easily fall.
- Never try to play on old swings – the ropes may be rotted and dangerous.
- A falling bale or tractor tyre can weigh as much as several grown adults and can kill you if it hits you.
- When you’re playing, keep your two feet on the ground, and not in the air.
Parents:
- Make sure ladders are tidied away and not
causing any unnecessary temptation. - Remove all old rope and tyre swings from your farm.
Download:
Videos
Dermot's story, told by his family.
Learn – Talk About Farm Safety
AgriKids:
- Ask your parents, guardians and teachers to talk to you about farm safety.
- Download and display the AgriKids Farm Safety Circle in your home or school.
- Remember you can read all about the adventures of Tom, Sarah & Mr Brambles in ‘Tales from Riverside Farm’.
Parents:
- If and when you are on the farm or taking a country walk, take some time to discuss farm safety with your little ones.
- Point out areas that are dangerous: rivers, fields with livestock, slurry areas, tractors, machinery and high stacked bales.
- Let them know where they can play and where to stay away.
- Check out Agri Aware and Dublin Zoo’s Family Farm, for their great farm safety activities (Source: Agri Aware and Dublin Zoo).
Sign up:
Sign your school or class up to the Farm Safe Schools Programme
Visit our Home Resources Section for at home activities
Elderly – Mind our older farmers
Decreased mobility and reaction time are probably the biggest contributory factors to farming accidents to older farmers.
Parents:
If you have an older farmer living or working nearby take the time to help them with difficult jobs and make them aware of safety.
Especially if:
- they are working with livestock on their own.
- their tractors and machinery are not well maintained.
- they have PTO guards broken or missing.
- they are taking risks fixing buildings and roofs.
- they need maintenance help around they yard and farm buildings
Download:
