Judy
Barnes Oskam
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
Oklahoma
State University, Extension Agricultural Engineering, 214
Agricultural Hall, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, (405) 744-5425
Safety
for America's Farm Environment Child Safety on the Farm
It's
better to be safe than sorry! We can't begin to list them
all, but here are a few simple safety tips.
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- Know
where your kids are at all times!
- Give
children age appropriate tasks. Remember, children
are not small adults.
- Make
sure children receive safety training before each
activity. Teach kids that the safe way is the only
way.
- Take
all children on a tour of the farm or ranch and point
out dangerous areas.
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- View
your farm from your child's perspective. Get down
on their level and look up, down and all around.
- Take
the ignition key out of equipment when not in use
and apply the parking brake.
- NO
extra rider. On a tractor, no seat means no rider.
- Don't
let children play on farm equipment. Whether the equipment
is idle or running, it can still be dangerous to an
unsuspecting operator.
- Keep
machinery in good repair. Install protective shields,
rollover protection structures (ROPS) and seat belts.
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- Disengage
your tractor power take-off (PTO) when idle or not
in use.
- Safety
train your child before he or she rides an all-terrain
vehicle. Make sure the size of the ATV fits the child.
- Get
your child into the habit of wearing a helmet, long
pants, eye protection, gloves and boots when riding
an ATV.
- Mark
all potentially dangerous areas, such as grain bins,
wagons and trucks, with decals or brightly colored
markers. Children need to learn to recognize danger
zones.
- Properly
clothe children who will be playing around the farm.
Appropriate footwear (boots or shoes without long
laces), jeans, long sleeve shirt and hat are recommended.
- Keep
children away from grain storage facilities.
- Beware
of electrical hazards. Roll up cords and wires and
store them neatly.
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- Don't
get burned! One serious childhood or adolescent sunburn
doubles the chances of developing skin cancer. The
sun is strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Fence
farm ponds and manure pits. Supervise children in
and around water.
- Inspect
your farm for objects which could fall and injure
a child. Tractor tires leaning against the barn could
prove hazardous.
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- Store
pesticides and other chemicals properly.
- Keep
them locked up and away from children. Teach them
to recognize CAUTION, DANGER and POISON labels.
- Teach
children the safe way to handle animals. Keep livestock
in the appropriate pen or fenced areas.
- Keep
your work area neat and clean.
- Loud
noise often attracts children, but it is very dangerous
and can cause hearing loss.
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Life
on the farm may seem peaceful and safe, but in fact the family
farm can be very dangerous to your health.
Agriculture
is one of the most hazardous occupations. While trying
to participate or lend a helping hand, children often fall
victim to agriculture-related accidents and deaths.
It's
estimated that more than 24,000 children are injured each
year on farms. Approximately 5,000 are injured seriously
and 300 children are killed.
As
adults, there is much we can do to provide a safe environment
for our children. This brochure lists some simple things
you can do to make your farm or ranch a safer place.
Project
SAFE
Safety
for America's Farm Environment
Compiled
by
Judy Barnes Oskam
Video Coordinator & Asst. Extension Specialist
Oklahoma State University
Technical
support provided by
Pat Lewis, M.S.
Extension 4-H and Safety Specialist
Oklahoma State University
and
H. Willard Downs, Ph.D.
Assist. Dir. of Extension Programs
University of Missouri
Funding
provided by
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
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
Oklahoma
Cooperative Extension Service does not discriminate because
of race. color, national origin. religion. sex. age. or handicap
and is an equal opportunity employer. issued in furtherance
of Cooperative Extension work acts of May 8 and June 30. 1914.
in cooperation with the U S Department of Agriculture. Charles
B Browning, Director of Cooperative Extension Service. Oklahoma
State University. Stillwater, Oklahoma This publication i s
printed and issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized
by the Dean of the Division of Agriculture Sciences and Natural
Resources and has been prepared and distributed at a cost of
$292.82 for 5,000 copies.
#1081
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