New safety guide for Victorian farming families released

The Victorian Farmers Federation has launched a farm safety guidebook for children aged between 10-15 years.

The Child Safety on Farms guide was developed after a 2021 coronial inquiry revealed that seven Victorian children were killed in farm machinery incidents between 2016 and 2021.

VFF senior farm safety advisor John Darcy said, "Sometimes parents need to say, 'No, you're not quite ready for that yet, but let's get you to do this other job.'"

"They shouldn't be riding adult-sized quad bikes until they are at least 16 and even putting them into side-by-side vehicles when they can't reach the floor and the grab rails, this is the sort of thing that's in the guide."

The guide provides advice on safe use of farm vehicles, chemical safety, and livestock handling safety.

Read the full story on ABC News.