Child safety in farming: are current rules too strict?

United Auctions operate a ‘strict no children policy in the penning area at any time’. This appears a trifle draconian. Surely there should be some nuance here.

Being in the penning area amidst a galloping herd of store cattle is quite different to attending a sheep or pedigree cattle sale, particularly for older ‘children’. To discourage accompanied youngsters from participating fully at markets is neither good for the future of these marts or for the encouragement of future participation in the industry. The industry much catch them while they are young.

Similarly you highlight the HSE warning about children in cabs. Surely a child would be far safer on the second seat of a modern tractor cab than wandering about the yard looking for its parent. One would doubt if there is any real evidence to support the assertion that there is a particular risk from supervised children being in the cab. Child care is a challenge on many family farms and the priority is to know exactly where the child is.

Whilst complying with the law exercising vigilance we must be careful, as you point out in your editorial, that extreme risk aversion does not lead to our young people being excluded from farming activities and surrendering their enthusiasm for agriculture; doubtless replacing it with sitting in the house glued to social media.

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