Health & Safety on Farm Visits

The Health and Safety Executive has produced definitive guidelines for taking school children out into the countryside and onto farms.  You are advised to read the guidance contained in the HSE publication 'Avoiding ill health at open farms - Advice to farmers (with teachers' supplement)'. 

This can be read online by clicking here:

Before your visit:

Read the advice in the HSE website.
Decide what the ratio of pupils to adults will be.
Discuss with the adults what their role will be during the visit.  They must understand the need to make sure that children wash, or are helped to wash, their hands thoroughly after contacting the animals.
Discuss with the pupils the rules for the visit.
Make sure that pupils wear appropriate clothing including wellie boots.
Check that cuts and grazes on children's hands are covered with waterproof dressings.
During and after the visit, make sure that the children:

Do not kiss the animals
Always wash their hands thoroughly after any contact with animals and again before leaving the farm.
Do not suck fingers or put hands, pencils etc. in mouths.
Clean or change their footwear before leaving, rememberiing to wash their hands after any contact with animal faeces on their footwear.
Check that the children stay in their allocated groups during the visit and that they:

Do not pick up tools unless permitted to do so by farm staff.
Do not climb onto walls, pens etc.
Listen carefully and follow instructions.
Approach and handle animals quietly and gently.
Do not chase, frighten or torment the animals.
Remember:

The children are your responsibility during the visit.
You should supervise them during the visit, especially during hand washing.
Allow plenty of time before leaving so that the children do not have to rush.
Risk assessment

RHET provides a generic risk assessment for each individual farm which can be downloaded here. Teachers may wish to adapt this on the pre-visit depending on the age and requirements of the pupils. 

Further sources of information

RHET Guidelines for farm visits.doc

E. coli 0157 schools information pack