Health and Safety Authority launches ‘On the Farm’ primary schools' publishing competition toraise awareness of child safety on farms
Safety Chief says zero only acceptable target as 17 children die in farm accidents in past 10 years.
The Health and Safety Authority was today (Friday 3rd May) joined by Ear to the Ground presenter, Helen Carroll and children from Johnswell National School in Kilkenny in launching its ‘On the Farm’ farm safety publishing competition open to primary school children nationwide. The competition is aimed at raising awareness of child safety on farms and children are asked to submit a piece of artwork, a poem or short story about life on the farm with a safety theme. Local Education Centres in every county have sent competition packs to all primary schools and the competition closes on 17th May. The winning work will be published in a book to be launched nationwide in the Autumn.
Chief Executive with the Health and Safety Authority, Mr. Martin O’Halloran, said, "17 children have died in farm accidents over the past ten years and we want to make that zero. Farms are dangerous places for children as they combine both home and workplace and, tragically, children still continue to get injured and die in farm accidents in this country. What can seem like a playground full of adventure for a child can bring devastating consequences for families. The lines can get blurred between work and safe play areas. Particular risk areas for children include moving tractors, machinery and quad bikes, slurry tanks, hazards at height including hay barns, animals and the storage of chemicals.”
Education Manager with the Authority, Joanne Harmon added that, "The tragedy of a child's death at the place where a family lives and earns their livelihood is an unimaginable horror that all must be vigilant to prevent. Children respond well to being educated about the risks around them. This competition is open to children of all ages in primary school and is an opportunity for children to raise their own awareness of safety on the farm as well as bringing the safety message home to parents. We commend every full-time Education Centre around the country for getting behind this project and helping to promote this critical message.”
Schools will conduct preliminary judging and then send eight of their children’s entries to their local full-time Education Centre by 17th May 2012, where regional judging will take place. Then, 84 children from across Ireland will be invited to attend a regional workshop with artists and children’s publishers ‘Kids’ Own’ in order to put together an ‘On the Farm’ book. The books will be published and distributed to all primary schools and libraries nationwide in the Autumn. Further information on entering can be accessed at www.hsa.ie/education. All enquiries can be directed to your local Education Centre or email educationunit@hsa.ie.
