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This supplement to AIS23 avoiding
ill health at open farms – advice for teachers and others who organise
visits to farms. One of the highlights of such visits is seeing and
possibly contacting animals, and this supplement advises on controlling
the risk of infections contracted from them.
Guidelines:
All animals naturally carry a
range of micro-organisms, some of which can be transmitted to humans,
where they may cause ill health. Some infections which may be contracted
on farms, such as the verocytotoxin-producing bacterium Escherichia coli
0157 (E coli 0157), present a serious hazard and potentially cause severe
disease.
While the hazard from infection
resulting from a farm visit is real, the risks are readily controlled by
familiar measures which should be an everyday part of life. The following
sensible steps will help make your visit even more safe, healthy and
enjoyable.
Before your visit:
· discuss visit arrangements with
the farm management;
· assure yourself that the facilities provided match the recommendations
in the main AIS23 information sheet;
· decide what the ratio of pupils to teachers/assistants/parents should
be. As a general rule, there should be one supervisor to every eight
children under eight years old. If supervision levels are less than this,
consider whether you should not allow direct contact with the animals for
children under eight;
· discuss with pupils the rules for the visit, stressing that they must
not eat or chew outside the areas in which you permit them to do so;
· make sure that pupils wear appropriate clothing, including sturdy
outdoor shoes (not sandals) or wellington boots if possible;
· check that cuts, grazes etc. on children’s hands are covered with a
waterproof dressing.
During and after the visit, make
sure that the children;
· do not kiss the animals;
· always wash their hands thoroughly before eating, after any contact with
animals and again before leaving the farm;
· eat only in designated areas;
· do not eat food which has fallen to the ground;
· do not suck fingers or put hands, pens, pencils or crayons etc. in
mouths;
· do not taste animal foods, i.e. eat only food that they have brought
with them, or food for human consumption they have bought on the farm;
· clean or change their footwear before leaving, remembering to wash their
hands after any contact with animals faeces on their footwear.
Check that the children stay in
their allocated groups during the visit, and that they;
· do not use or pick up tools
(e.g. spades and forks) unless permitted to do so by farm staff;
· do not climb on to walls or animal pens etc;
· listen carefully and follow the instructions and information given by
the farm staff;
· 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, in particular during hand
washing to make sure that each child washes thoroughly. Farm staff may be
able to help you with this supervision;
· allow plenty of time before eating or leaving so that the children do
not have to rush.
If a member of your group shows
signs of illness (e.g. sickness or diarrhoea after a visit, advise them or
their parent/guardian to visit the doctor and explain that they have had
recent contact with animals.
Published by the Health & Safety
Executive
> Click here for direct access to the HSE document -
www.farmsforschools.org.uk
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Health & Safety Information...