Conversations about safety

Youth face significant risks of injuries and fatalities on family farms, where the overlapping roles of home and workplace create unique challenges. While farming hazards are well-documented, there is limited understanding of youth behavior on farms, their interactions with hazards, and the most effective methods for delivering safety training and guidance to this vulnerable population. This qualitative research investigates how adolescents and their parents address farm safety, share safety information, and perceive injury risks, safety efficacy, and safety strategies. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom with fifteen parent-youth pairs (dyads) living and working on family farms in southeastern Iowa.