Union figure backs drive to improve farm safety

NFU Scotland vice-president Charlie Adam has added his voice to calls for farmers to take steps to protect children on farms.

Mr Adam has asked all producers to check over their farm or croft and make any adjustments for the safety of children following the closure of schools and nurseries in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“We all want our children to be involved in farm life but it is more important to make sure we create a safe environment on farm,” added Mr Adam.

“Technology has changed so much in recent years, which has made a lot of work much more effective but has also made it a lot more dangerous for children to be in or around farm activities.

“We need, as an industry, to accept the change in times and change our practices with it.

“Farms are not playgrounds and we need to keep children off farm whenever it is not completely safe to have them there. Keeping our children safe and sound has to be a priority for all of us.”

Last week the Farm Safety Foundation published two new farm safety guides – one for agricultural students and one for parents – to remind them to keep children safe on farms.

The charity’s manager, Stephenie Berkeley, said: “We don’t know how long this situation will last and our wonderful NHS workers are already feeling the strain of dealing with the spread of Covid-19.

“We need to take responsibility for our own safety and the safety of our loved ones and not risk any of us having a farm accident that will add to a workforce already under pressure.”

“They are working hard to keep us safe so the least we can do is farm safe for them.”