Agriculture has one of the highest fatal accident rates of any industry in the UK. It is also the only high-risk industry that has to deal with the constant presence of children. Farms are homes as well as workplaces. Visitors to the countryside, many of them children, are often present on farm whilst work activities are being carried out. The following Case Studies reflect not only the dangers on farm but also the dangers to children from the use of common farm machinery and equipment and common farming activities.
- Training, supervision and failing to assess the risks to young persons[1]
Farmer prosecuted following accident to a 16 year-old boy who had to have his leg amputated after he slipped while trying to climb onto a tractor - Child carried as a passenger in a telescopic
materials handler and unrestricted access to farm[2]
children put at risk through movement of vehicles, unrestricted access to machinery and slurry lagoon - Young people working without adequate training
or supervision[3]
a 14 year old schoolboy had his hand trapped inside a grass baling machine - Failing to assess the risks to children[4]
a 13 year old child was injured whilst working on an egg packing line - Children working unsupervised[5]
a 14 year old child suffered serious head injuries when struck by the forks of a materials handler - Child safety and supervision
[6] a 3 year old child was run over by his father while he played on a silage clamp. - Unsecured heavy objects and children
[7] seven year old child suffers a fractured skull when a fencing panel fall onto him - Child killed by reversing forklift truck[8]
An eight-year old child was killed under the wheels of a reversing forklift truck. - Fatal ATV overturn[9]
A 14 year-old who was working without training or supervision was killed when the ATV he was driving overturned. - Inadequate supervision and no risk assessment[10]
A young person who was run over by a forklift truck that was being driven by an untrained and unauthorised person.