Living and working on your farm while raising a family is a great way of life. But there are inherent dangers you need to watch for that suburban dwellers don't have to deal with. In fact, kids don't have to be working at the farm to get injured. Sixty percent of kids injured in agriculture were not working at the time, according to a 2020 report from the National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety.

Farm safety for kids is important, whether it's your own children or others who are visiting the farm who may not have any idea about safety issues. About 900,000 kids live on a farm, but almost 24 million visit a farm yearly. That may include friends and family or the public if your farm welcomes visitors.

Look out for these farm dangers

As you look at making your farm a safer place for kids to work or visit, consider these six areas to improve. They are common liabilities and dangers to be aware of on many farms.

Equipment

It's imperative to keep children safe around farm equipment. Of youths who die on farms, 47 percent die in a transportation-related incident, which include tractors and ATVs, and 20 percent involve machinery contact. It is fun to ride on a tractor or ATV even as a passenger, but if the vehicle isn't meant for more than the rider, the vehicle can easily roll over when hitting a bump or ditch. Losing control of a vehicle is dangerous to the driver and passenger — and anyone in its way. Compared to adults, young people under the age of 16 have 12 times the accident rate of adults.

Tip: Let children sit on the vehicles only when they're turned off and an adult is present. Make sure the keys are not left where kids can easily grab them for a joyride. Designate the tractors, hay balers and other work equipment as for work only, not pleasure.

Grain bins

Children (and adults) can suffocate in a grain bin as there is a huge force exerted when the grain is flowing. A third of all those suffocated or entrapped in flowing grain are children ages 14 or younger, according to the National Ag Safety Database.

Tip: Teach your kids to stay away from the grain bin, and that it is not a toy to play in or near. Keep kids out of the grain area when it is being loaded or unloaded — it's like quicksand.

Tools

Farm tools can be dangerous, whether they are sharp, rusty, or have some other type of hazard.

Tip: Show children how to use tools at the farm and then watch them do it as well. Ensure proper technique by using a talk-back approach where the kids explain to you how they're using the tool and what they're thinking about. This reinforces the lesson.

Buildings

Whether kids are working at the farm or just living there, buildings are an important concern. Barns, sheds and other storage areas present opportunities for harm, such as rodents, exposed extension cords or wires, chemical storage, broken nails or boards and animals.

Tip: Consider keeping these buildings locked when not actively in use, or better yet, make them as child-proof as you can. For example, ensure cords are wrapped up and securely stowed and that the building is properly maintained.

Animals

Farm animals are often seen as cuddly and cute, especially in children's books and cartoons. And they can be cuddly and cute! But they can also be dangerous. These animals, whether a cow, horse or even a chicken, can be unpredictable. Larger animals, especially, have power in their legs and weigh a lot.

Tip: Keep children away from animals when unsupervised and teach them how to approach and handle them properly.

Chemicals

Sometimes it's easier to leave chemicals out or store them in an accessible area if you're going to use them again soon . But if you have kids around, this can be a dangerous practice. You should keep hazardous materials out of sight and preferably locked up when not actively in use. This includes properly disposing of them as well, as kids may want to play with empty containers.

Tip: Teach kids not to put anything in their mouths that they were not given permission to eat or drink. Keep the chemicals in their original containers and never use food or drink containers to hold or mix chemicals.

Farm safety tips

Consider these additional general farm safety tips and ways to think about farm safety for kids:

• Fence off a play area so the younger children can play in a protected space where they won't be tempted to wander off into parts of the farm that could get them into trouble. Keep that play space far enough away from active farm areas, separate them from scrap metals and roads and as well as any other areas that might present a danger.
• Gate off areas like ponds to prevent accidental drowning.
• Make fixed ladders inaccessible so kids won't climb them.
• Store portable ladders out of reach of children.
• Give kids instructions on where they are allowed to go. Tell them not to go to any ponds or lakes, to the grain bins, into animal stalls or any other place that presents a danger.
• Make plans for whatever natural disasters are in your area, like fires, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes. Conduct regular drills a few times a year, so the kids have experience going through the motions.
• Teach children how to use a fire extinguisher and show them where they are located around the farm.

Farm and agribusiness insurance is important to maintain, as is a general liability policy for farms. Westfield can help you with that.