Waimakariri is a semi-rural district.
Two key issues affect farm safety:
- Entrenched ways of doing things in the well-established sector
- Inexperienced lifestyle blockholders.
To endeavour to create an improved safety culture in our rural communities we have developed a school-based programme, aimed at teaching children, and in turn their parents, to have a good understanding of how to be safe on the farm or 'Down the Back Paddock'.
Create a parent-kid farm safety contract
Contracts are signed on a regular basis as part of the operations of running a farm. Contracts can extend further than those with contractors, employees and suppliers. Kids who grow up on farms are exposed to risks and hazards and their safety can be in danger. So why not set up a contract with them too?
Create safe play areas for kids
Part of keeping kids safe on the farm is creating a safe area for them to play in, away from the majority of farm activity. Creating and maintaining a safe play area can help greatly reduce the risk to children living on a farm.
Read some tips on locating and developing a safe play area.
Practice safety when tending to animals
Whether you are working alone or getting one of your children or a visitor to help with chores around the farm, you need to educate and protect yourself before allowing others to interact with your animals.
For more information contact:
Kerry Miles, Rural Safety Coordinator
Phone: 0800 965 468
Email: kerry.miles@wmk.govt.nz