Author: Janet Hickinbottom

Safety on the Farm

LEAF Education
Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG
www.leafuk.org/education

Contents
Introduction Page 3
Risk Assessments Pages 4–6
Signs Pages 7–9
Machinery and Movement Pages 10-12
Fields and Hedgerows Pages 13-15
Pond and Water Safety Pages 16-18
Hand washing Pages 19-21

Introduction
This resource aims to support teachers and farmers when guiding groups of children on farm visits.
It gives practical experiences to children, through active learning scenarios, allowing them to engage and interact with farm hazards in a controlled environment, avoiding giving children a prescribed set of do’s and don’ts. Rather, it aims to let children learn about potential hazards in a fun and exciting way.
Whilst child safety is an adult responsibility, children can learn age-appropriate knowledge and skills for identifying, assessing and dealing with farm injury risk as they grow. This resource supports this process and fosters the development of positive safety attitudes, behaviours and decision-making.

Risk Assessments
What is a risk assessment? We all carry these out all the time - such as when we cross the road.
The children can become health and safety inspectors! They can assess the severity of a hazard or risk and work out what control measures the farmer needs to put in to reduce the likelihood of that hazard/risk happening.
A hazard is something with the potential to cause harm.
A risk is the likelihood of potential harm resulting from that hazard.
This activity is best carried out in small groups.
Give each group a photo of one of the farm areas. What hazards may be in the area?
How might these be reduced or controlled?

Risk assessing the farm
Prepare an area of the farm for the “inspectors” to investigate. Make sure the route is safe for them but you might like to
create a few hazards for them to find! (e.g. a ladder left in
position). Children should always be supervised.
Give them copies of a sheet like the one on the next page

Farm inspector’s risk assessment

Things that can cause you harm (hazards)	How much harm? / (1-5 with 5 being a lot)	How can it be / reduced or / lowered? (Controls)

Signs on the farm
Ask the children where they see signs and what they mean. (At school, on the roads, in shops - everywhere! Some are information signs, others are safety signs etc.)
Give the children some brightly coloured cut out stars (bought or made in advance).
Stop Think Assess Risk
Ask the children to look round the farm for signs and to place their stars on them. Afterwards, discuss which of the signs are safety signs highlighting hazards.

Sound map
Listening is a very important thing to do to keep safe on the farm by being aware of what is around us.
Give each child a “disk” (circle of card) and a pencil to “record” the sounds around them. At the centre of the disk the child adds itself as a drawing or symbol. Then they stand and listen and decide which sounds are coming from which direction. Marking its position, they draw a symbol or picture to represent the sound.

Machines and movement
Park a big tractor somewhere safe and remove the keys! Children have little idea of the size of farm machinery so let them get up close to it and do some measuring if possible.
Children will love to sit in the cab but make sure you have adults supervising and steps for them to use.
Ask the children to identify “blind spots” that the driver cannot see - hence reinforcing the importance of keeping away from machinery.

The Countryside Code
Respect, Protect, Enjoy
Be safe; plan ahead and follow any signs
Leave gates and property as you find them
Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home
Keep dogs under close control
Consider other people

Approaching animals
In an area away from any livestock, ask for two or three volunteers to be blindfolded. Then arrange for other children to approach the blindfolded ones making lots of noise, shouting and banging. Separately, ask other children to approach them quietly, talking in soft voices.
Ask the blindfolded children which approach they preferred and which they think animals would prefer.
Encourage the children to remember the quiet approach when you visit animals on the farm!

Emergency
If there is an emergency or you are in trouble:
Know where you are
Stay calm and make sure you are not in danger
Contact an adult or the emergency service
Phone 999 or 112
If there is no phone, where can you find an adult? (farmhouse, farm building etc)

Involving children in risk on farms
Another useful resource can be found here:
http://www.countrysideclassroom.org.uk/resources/1123
This is a resource to support teachers and farmers in helping children develop age-appropriate understanding of risk during a farm visit through active learning.

Safety on the Farm

LEAF Education
Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG
www.leafuk.org/education

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