Safety Tips

 Child Safety on the Farm:

• Do not allow children to roam freely on the farm. Design a fenced safe play area. This area should be near the house and away from work activities.

• Inspect your farm on a regular basis for hazards that can injure children wandering on your farm. Correct obvious hazards immediately.

• Children who are physically able to be involved in farm work should be assigned age-appropriate tasks and continually trained to perform them. They should also be constantly supervised.

Tractor Safety:

• Develop a "safety first" attitude. Follow safe work practices all the time and set a good example for others.
• Keep bystanders and others away from tractor operation area. Do not allow extra riders, especially children. 

All Terrain Vehicles:

• An ATV is not a toy. Children should not be permitted to operate ATVs without specialized training and then they should be allowed to only operate an ATV of an appropriate size.
• ATVs with an engine size of 70cc to 90cc should be operated by people at least 12 years of age.

Grain Storage Safety:

• Label grain bins to warn of entrapment hazards.
• Lock entrances to grain handling areas to keep bystanders and children out.
• Install ladders inside bins.
• Keep bystanders and children away from grain bins and grain handling equipment.

Chemical Safety:

• Always read packaging labels. All crop protection chemicals include information on the proper use of the chemical; its proper handling, safe storage and first aid information.
• Keep crop protection chemicals in storage areas that can be locked to keep bystanders and children out. Be sure to label the storage area as containing pesticides.

Livestock Safety:

• Keep children and bystanders out of livestock handling areas.
• Animals can be unpredictable. Be sure you understand some of the common instincts of animals.
• Sudden or loud noises can frighten animals.
• Cattle and horses can see everything around them except directly behind their hindquarters.

Electrical Safety:

• Do have a qualified electrician check the wiring.
• Don’t overload outlets.
• Don’t use electrical appliances or talk on the phone during an electrical storm.
• Do wait until the storm passes.

Fire Safety:

·         Install smoke alarms on every level of your home so that family members can hear them wherever they are.

·         Never disconnect smoke alarms or take out the batteries.

·         Keep combustible materials, such as kitchen towels and newspapers, away from heat sources, such as candles, burners and portable heaters.

·         In case of fire, leave your home immediately. Don’t try to save anything. Call the fire department from a neighbor’s house.

Lawn Mower Safety:

·         Wear appropriate clothes.

·         Never point the discharge chute at anyone.

·         Never leave a running mower unattended.

·         Make sure other people, especially children, are out of the area.

For more information:

National Safety Council Agriculture Division
National Fire Protection Association