Keep children safe on farms this summer

Agriculture has one of the highest fatal injury rates of any industry in Great Britain, but is the only high-risk industry that has to deal with the constant presence of children. Farms are homes as well as workplaces, and visitors, including children, may also be present on farms.

Children and young people up to the age of 18 are regularly killed and injured on farms, either because they are working on the farm or because they are playing there.

This leaflet provides practical guidance on how to reduce the risk of injury to children under 13 and older children below minimum school leaving age (usually 16). It also identifies tasks and operations that are too hazardous for children and young people to do and includes examples of incidents from real life – often involving a parent killing their own child.

Previously published as AS10, this guidance has been updated but there is no change to the policy/law relating to children on farms.

Every year children are killed or seriously injured during agricultural work activities. Most of them are family members of those working on farms.

HSE’s recently published the Farming fatalities report for 2021/22 (PDF), which shows that 8 children were killed in farming between April 2017 and March 2022. Unfortunately, there have been more child fatalities on farms since then.

During the summer holiday, more children may be at home on the farm. Farmers should ensure that children are kept safely away from workplace activities.

HSE's agriculture website has a range of resources to help farmers manage risks appropriately, as well as further guidance about keeping children safe on the farm.

For advice and guidance, click here.