As part of Child Safety Week, the HSENI has issued a safety warning to all parents, building contractors and farmers to stop children using dangerous workplaces such as building sites and farmyards as adventure playgrounds over the summer holidays.

In the past 10 years, 18 children have died as a result of accidents on farms while four have been killed on building sites across the province.

Kevin Toner, Deputy Chief Executive of HSENI warned: “Constant vigilance is necessary to protect children from dangerous workplaces all year round and this is particularly true over the school holidays.

“We would appeal to all parents to warn their children of the dangers and to be always mindful of where they are playing. Building contractors must be extra vigilant in keeping children off sites and ensure that their site is properly secured when work is finished for the day."

During Child Week of Safety, HSENI is providing a series of exhibitions at the Buttercrane Centre, Newry, Meadow Lane, Magherafelt, Foyleside, Londonderry and Forestside in Belfast.

These are designed to alert children and parents that farms, building sites, quarries and railway lines are dangerous environments and not playgrounds.

(MB)