William J. Becker
University of Florida IFAS Extension
"The
country is a great place to raise kids." How many times have
you heard that comment? Certainly, there are advantages to
growing up on a farm or in a rural area; but there are disadvantages,
too:there are hazards to their health.
And
we, as adults, are part of the problem. Review Table 1 below.
Would you agree that six-year-old children should be allowed
to ride on a tractor with a parent? Would you agree that twelve-year-old
children are mature enough to operate a tractor? If you do,
you may be hazardous to the health of your child!
Table 1. Ages parents think children
should be around machinery. |
Behavior |
0-3 |
4-6 |
7-9 |
1 0-12 |
13-15 |
Av. Age |
Ride Tractor with Parent |
29% |
36% |
14% |
18% |
2% |
6 yrs |
Operate Tractor |
0% |
3% |
10% |
54% |
28% |
12 yrs |
Be within 10' of machines |
1% |
4% |
11% |
41% |
33 % |
12 yrs |
Percentage of parents who feel that children
in each group should be allowed to begin doing each activity |
There are many hazards to children living on farms and in rural
areas:hazards that are attractive, fun, dangerous and deadly.
There are children riding on tractors or driving tractors at
too young an age. Kids can be seen riding on the back of trucks,
driving adult-sized ATV's at high speeds, riding on the top
of loads of hay, grain or other produce.
We see
kids, unattended, around livestock, horses, playing
along the banks of ponds, canals and streams. There are kids
playing with, working with, power tools which are much too
dangerous for them.
Review
Table 2. What does it tell us? It tells us that children,
ages 5 to 14, who spend the same amount of time in a work
area (not necessarily working) as their older brothers, sisters
or parents, are two to five times more likely to be involved
in an accident, be injured or killed.
Many
children are too immature or lack the physical and mental
development to work, play, or even be in the work area. Keep
them away from dangerous environments and activities.
Table 2. High farm accident rate for
kids |
Age |
Accident Rate |
5-14 |
35.6 |
15-24 |
14.2 |
25-44 |
10.3 |
45-64 |
6.6 |
65+ |
10.2 |
1988 Accident Study 500 Farm Survey. |
- Do
not allow children as extra riders on equipment.
- Do
not allow children to play with idle machinery.
- Leave
any equipment that might fall:such as front end loaders:in
the down position.
- When
self-propelled machinery is parked, brakes should be locked
and keys removed from the ignition.
- Always
leave a tractor PTO in neutral.
- When
starting machinery:and especially when reversing it:know
where the children are.
- Maintain
machinery in good repair, particularly protective shields,
ROPS, and seat belts.
- Do
not permit kids to operate machinery until they have completed
safety training.
- Fence
farm ponds and manure pits.
- Place
fixed ladders out of reach, or fit with a special barrier;
store portable ladders away from danger areas.
- Shield
dangerous machinery components and electrical boxes and
wiring and place out of reach of small children, or fit
with locking devices.
- Store
chemicals and pesticides in a locked area.
- Place
warning decals on all grain bins, wagons and trucks
- Maintain
lights and reflectors for all equipment used on roads.
- Devote
a day to family safety instructions and rules.
Disclaimer and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
1. This document was published 11/91 as Fact Sheet
AE-1
, Florida Cooperative Extension Service. For more information,
contact your county Cooperative Extension Service office.
2. William J. Becker, Professor and Extension Safety Specialist,
Agricultural Engineering Department, Cooperative Extension
Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS),
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
|