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New resources can help youth stay safe in agriculture

The agriculture industry has the highest death rate for youth and there are new resources available to help children and young adults stay safe.

Melissa Ploeckelman with the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety says the new guidelines can help reduce the risk of serious injury. “It helps them to look at not only a youth’s age but their ability level. When are they large enough to do a task? When are they mentally cognizant of everything that task entails including all the hazard and risk?”  Ploeckelman says.

During the past decade, more youth have died working in agriculture than all other industries combined, according to the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety.

Three new safety booklets cover farming equipment operation, working with animals and gardening, which help adults assign age-and-ability appropriate tasks to young people.

She tells Brownfield, as an example, using seat belts are critical. “When we get in the car, we don’t think twice, most people snap it right away.  Why aren’t we doing that with tractors?”

Ploeckelman says the guidelines also cover rollover bars and grain bin and road safety.

More information is at this website.

Listen to the full interview: