ELEVEN children have been killed in accidents on farms since 2000, new figures have revealed.
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) released the figures yesterday as part of their drive to highlight the importance of safety on farms.
HSENI inspectors are visiting more than 80 rural schools this week, as part of Farm Safey Week, to teach children about farm safety through interactive workshops.
A 'farm safe' app was released last year as part of the initiative to help make children aware of the dangers on farms.
HSENI Chief Executive Keith Morrison said that parents must also be involved in teaching their children to be wary of potential dangers on farms.
He said: "I am making a personal plea to all farm families to make child farm safety a priority.
"Please talk about safety as a family and put in place simple, practical, measures to make sure your children are safe at all times."
Ulster Farmer's Union (UFU) president Ivor Ferguson, acknowledged that children are "naturally curious" and farms can be "tempting places" for them to play.
He set out examples of ways that parents can keep their children safe this summer.
"These measures include providing children with a securely fenced off play area, ensuring unattended vehicles are kept locked, and discouraging children from using bales of any description for playing,” he said.
Other guidelines for parents include preventing children from playing near livestock, keeping them away while mixing slurry and ensuring all family members know what to do in an emergency.
For more information, you can visit www.hseni.gov.uk/news/child-safety-farms-week
