25 years of safety: National child agricultural safety center turns 25

MARSHFIELD, Wis. — The National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety has been promoting safety on the farm for 25 years.

Before the National Children’s Center there were relatively few resources and virtually no guidance on strategies to safeguard working and non-working children on farms, said Barbara Lee, director of the center.

Early on, the center developed guidelines for parents to match chores with their child’s developmental and physical capabilities.

Follow-up data demonstrated a 56% decline in youth farm injury rates from 1998 to 2009, which ranked among Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report’s Ten Great Public Health Achievements 2001-2010.

“Guidelines for Parents” has since been updated as the “Agricultural Youth Work Guidelines.” Learn more at www.cultivatesafety.org/aywg.

For example, guidelines for using farmstead equipment are posted on the website.

Youth must be able to do or have all of the following to perform this job safely:

• Avoid loose clothing, clothes with strings, tie back long hair.

• Ensure there are no extra people in the work area.

• Walk through area and identify obstacles to eliminate or avoid.

• Recognize a hazard, problem solve and respond appropriately.

• React quickly to hazards.

• Mature enough to consistently do what is expected.

• Think through actions and consequences before acting.

• Good peripheral vision.

• Stay focused on a task for up to 50 minutes.

• Understand and consistently repeat a five-step process.

• Reach and operate controls from a balanced, standing position.

• Lift objects, using proper lifting technique.

• Strength to maneuver cart without straining or hitting obstacles.

• Safely demonstrate the job four to five times.

• Maintain two-way communication link.

• Change clothing and wash hands after completing job.

To stay informed about 25th anniversary activities, and to share your 25th anniversary child agricultural safety memories, follow @NCCRAHS on Facebook and Twitter.