Bart, I checked out your links. Two were reports of 19 year olds being killed. The new law would not have mattered much as they were already legal age. One was an Amish boy killed when he was thrown from a horse while mowing hay so I'm guessing we should ban all children from riding horses. If the boy was mowing for his father the new law would not have mattered in this case.
A couple of your posts reported on the same accident, the two 17 year olds killed in a grain auger. Generally to be killed by an auger one has to ignore some basic safety rules. These two boys were 17 so once again the new law would not have mattered as it sets limits for those under 16 with operating and assisting in operation of power-driven equipment.
A couple of your links dealt with the two girls eletrocuted while detasseling in a ponded corn filed when they came in contact with a field irrigator. Once again a terrible tragedy but I'm guessing it is more of a freak accident much like a house fire started by a faulty extesion cord then a matter of some farmer subjecting teenagers to working in dangerous conditions.
I agree farming can be dangerous and think one child killed is to many. I have no problem with banning young workers from operating PTO driven machinery or cleaning out grain bins on their own. However one needs to use some common sense when implementing these new laws.
"Operating non-ag tractors and power driven equipment: The proposal would prohibit hired youth farm workers under 16 from operating and assisting in operation of power-driven equipment, including machines, equipment and vehicles operated by any power source other than human hand or foot power (i.e. lawn and garden tractors and power-driven milking equipment)." Bart have you or your neighbors ever hired a teenager under 16 to mow your lawn?
"Working with or around animals: Proposal would prohibit youth workers from working around breeding stock, including sows with young pigs, cows with a newborn calf, etc. It seems this would preclude youth from participating in breeding, branding, castrating, herding, vaccinating, etc." This has gotten many leaders of 4H and FFA concerned as they worry it will make it hard for youths to participate in and learn from livestock programs.
"Under the proposal, youth under 18 could herd livestock on horse back or ATVs; could not help with branding, breeding, dehorning, vaccinating or castrating livestock, or treat sick or injured animals,and could not participate in any activity with noncastrated male horses, pigs or cattle older then 6 months."
The proposed rules keep in place the exemption for working at their parent's or guardian's farm or ranch, but would limit jobs for children under 18 if they are not working directly for their parents.
However, becase many farms and ranchs are incorporated to include and extended family - grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters, ect. - they would lose their exemption and family members under 16 would not be allowed to work on the farm or handle animals on a ranch.
