Farm safety during the school holidays and how to protect children from avoidable harm
Terry Griffin, partner, and Charles Mather, solicitor, in our regulatory, compliance & licensing team, look at the dangers posed to children living on or visiting farms, and the practical steps farmers, landowners and rural businesses should take as school holidays approach.
Farms are homes, workplaces and, increasingly, visitor destinations. That combination creates risks for children, especially during school holidays when children may spend more time around yards, machinery, livestock and contractors.
Although many children who live on farms are familiar with the environment, familiarity must not be mistaken for competence or sound judgement. HSE guidance is clear that farms are not playgrounds. Children are naturally curious, may enter areas that appear inaccessible, and may not appreciate the speed at which a routine farm task can become life-threatening.
Why the risk increases during school holidays
School holidays often coincide with some of the busiest periods in the farming calendar. Harvesting, silage making, livestock movements and the use of seasonal or casual labour can all increase activity around the farm.
That means more vehicle movements, more contractors on site, more temporary changes to routes and working areas, and greater pressure on those supervising children. For farms that host visitors, holiday periods may also bring school groups, open days, pick-your-own activities, holiday lets or informal family visits.
The key legal and practical point is that a farm business must assess and control risks not only to employees, but also to others who may be affected by its activities. That includes children living on the farm, children of employees or contractors, visiting relatives, school groups, customers and members of the public using rights of way.
The main hazards for children on farms
The most serious risks are well recognised, but incidents continue to occur because children are able to access dangerous areas or are allowed to be too close to work activity.
Hazards include:
- Vehicles and machinery: tractors, telehandlers, ATVs, loaders, trailers and other self-propelled machinery can cause fatal or serious injuries. Children may be difficult for operators to see, particularly when reversing or manoeuvring in yards.
- Riding on agricultural vehicles: it is unlawful to allow a child under 13 to ride on or drive agricultural self-propelled machines and certain other farm machinery. Children should not be carried in tractor cabs or on trailers unless a proper, risk-assessed visitor arrangement is in place.
- Livestock: cattle, pigs and other animals can crush, kick, butt or gore. Animals do not need to be aggressive to cause serious injury.
Farm businesses should also be mindful of the hazards posed by slurry pits and silos, stacks and bales, fertilizers and other hazardous materials, and inadequate hygiene arrangements in animal contact areas.
What should farm businesses do now?
Farmers and rural businesses should treat the school holidays as a prompt to review child safety arrangements. That review does not need to be unnecessarily complicated, but it should be deliberate, documented where required, and communicated to everyone working on or visiting the farm.
We recommend that farm businesses:
- Separate children from the workplace by creating clear, secure play or family areas away from yards, workshops, livestock buildings, slurry areas and vehicle routes.
- Control access to dangerous areas using locked gates, fencing, covers, barriers and clear signage. Gates should be difficult for children to climb and should be kept secured.
- Review traffic management so that children and pedestrians are separated from vehicles wherever possible. Visiting drivers and contractors should be told where to park, load, unload and wait.
- Apply a strict no-rides policy for children on tractors, ATVs, telehandlers, loaders and other work equipment unless the activity is lawful, properly assessed and genuinely safe.
- Remove keys and immobilise machinery when not in use. Vehicles should be left in a safe condition, with controls in neutral, parking brakes applied and raised equipment lowered.
- Secure chemicals, medicines and sharps in suitable locked stores and ensure empty containers, needles and contaminated materials are disposed of properly.
- Warn and manage contractors so they know children may be present and so they understand the farm’s rules on vehicle movements, exclusion zones and work areas.
- Supervise visitors properly, particularly during open days, school visits or holiday activities. Handwashing facilities must be sufficient, visible and actively promoted where animal contact is possible.
- Brief family members and staff so that everyone understands that they may stop work if a child enters a work area or unsafe location.
Practical preparation before the school holidays
If a child is injured or killed on a farm, the consequences for the family and business are devastating. There may also be a regulatory investigation, RIDDOR reporting obligations, enforcement notices, prosecution, civil claims and significant reputational damage.
HSE and local authorities will consider whether the risks were foreseeable and whether reasonably practicable steps were taken to prevent access, control the hazard and supervise the child. In many cases, the relevant measures are straightforward: fencing, locked gates, safe traffic routes, proper storage, clear rules and effective supervision.
Before the next school holiday period, farm businesses should walk the site with child safety specifically in mind. Look at the farm from a child’s perspective: what can be climbed, opened, entered, started, ridden on or hidden in?
A short, practical review now can prevent a serious incident later. For rural businesses that open to the public or host educational visits, the review should also cover visitor routes, animal contact controls, handwashing, signage, staff briefing and emergency arrangements.