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Farm Events: |
Farm News: WI Farmers Union Concerned Over Labor LawscommentsPosted: 12.08.2011
WFU has submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Labor opposing certain elements of proposed child safety regulations for agriculture and agriculture-related jobs. WFU supports the goal of improving the safety of younger workers on farms, but feels that the proposed regulations might actually work against that goal by limiting opportunities for youth to learn farm safety skills in a supervised setting.
"In my own interactions with young people, I have observed that the younger kids are introduced to a task that is age-appropriate for them, the easier they pick it up and the safer and more confident they are. If we can't teach 14- and 15-year-olds to operate a tractor in a supervised setting, how will they be prepared at age 16 to hop in a tractor and operate it all by themselves?" said Darin Von Ruden, Wisconsin Farmers Union president. The proposed regulations would eliminate the current provision that allows 14- and 15-year-olds to operate tractors after completing a certified training course such as those offered by 4-H.
The regulations would also prohibit 14- and 15-year-olds from operating any power-driven equipment and performing many animal husbandry tasks on farms other than those owned by their parents. "Some of these regulations, including those related to working with animals and with any kind of power-driven equipment, are out of touch with the reality on farms. Every day, youth and teens are performing these tasks safely and without incident. We all want to keep our kids safe, but we can't raise them in a bubble," Von Ruden said. "The risk is that by excluding teens from opportunities for meaningful work on farms, we discourage them from considering farming as possible vocation," Von Ruden continued. "Wisconsin Farmers Union believes that the best way to improve farm safety is to give youth the opportunity to learn alongside family members and neighbors throughout their formative years." |