Emily Krekelberg, University of Minnesota Extension educator for farm safety and health, said that sentiment should be used when doing anything on a farm, particularly when there are other people around.

“Whether it’s harvesting, planting or anything in between, that can save us a lot of trouble,” she said. “Just slow down and think twice.”

This is particularly important when it comes to children. Krekelberg said there are inherent risks when it comes to operating machinery that become enhanced with young people nearby. Nearly 33 children are involved in some sort of ag accident each day, and every three days there is an ag-related death of a child.

Many of the accidents that occur involving young people don’t happen when they are using the equipment, she said.

“Nearly 60-75% of these accidents happen when they are not actively working on the farm,” she said. “They are just nearby and become, for lack of a better word, collateral damage.”

Things such as transporting grain, filling grain bins, emptying grain carts or operating equipment near an open field can be risky if children are playing nearby or just watching from the sidelines. Putting a tractor in reverse and not realizing there is a person behind the equipment can occur if there isn’t enough awareness.

Krekelberg said livestock also pose an inherent risk to children who may not have the training or strength to handle an unruly animal. Even with training, animals can pose a risk.

“It’s a working business and kids are working on these farms,” she said. “Anything can be a hazard. When you think about age-appropriate work, there are guidelines for kids on the farm. Some it comes down to children helping or being around a task they are just not old enough to be helping with.”

In terms of operating tractors or driving a truck, Krekelberg says guidelines often indicate drivers should be 14 years old or older. However, that can change based on the child.

“Age is just a number,” she said. “Take into account what the physical capabilities of your child are. In my family, we are fairly short so when my brothers were 14, they couldn’t reach the tractor pedals yet. Also think about the mental capacity and decision-making abilities. Just because you are 14 doesn’t mean you are suddenly qualified to drive a tractor.”

Krekelberg said awareness and hazard recognition is the biggest skill to learn when working with or near children on the farm, particularly around harvest time when there are a lot of moving pieces.

“Create a safe playing area,” she said. “Use a snow fence or something that makes it well marked so everyone knows you can’t drive a truck or tractor through there. Then talk to the kids about hazards and educate them to create a culture of safety on the farm.”