The horrific child death toll on Ulster farms, which has seen 16 fatalities in the last decade, has resulted in proposals for new tough health and safety laws. Figures released by the Health and safety Executive Northern Ireland have revealed that four children died falling from moving tractors, four drowned in slurry tanks, three were struck by falling objects, while there were further deaths caused by mowers, trailers, milk tankers and even a suckler cow.
These figures have been released as new health and safety laws are proposed with the aim of preventing such horrific deaths. In the future, farmers will have to fence off part of their land for children who visit, so they can play safely. The new provisions will also prohibit children under the age of 13 from operating, driving or riding on agricultural machinery. Agriculture is the only industry in Northern Ireland that allows children between 13 and 16 to operate machinery and tractors. However children will now be required to undergo formal training and assessment, and will only be permitted to drive, tow or operate such machinery if supervised by a competent adult and they hold a nationally recognised certificate.
There will also be further restrictions on children operating specific types of machinery, like power take-off (PTO) driven machinery, harvesting machinery and slurry tankers or pumps. They must also not carry out any maintenance of such equipment. Young people aged 16 to 17 must receive additional training on the safe use of PTO driven equipment and should only operate them if supervised. They will be able to carry out maintenance work, but again only under supervision.
