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The Farm Environment
Book chapter

The Farm Environment

James A Merchant and Diane S Rohlman
Textbook of Children's Environmental Health
Oxford University Press
12/01/2013
DOI: 10.1093/med/9780199929573.003.0019

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Abstract

The farm environment presents unique challenges to the health and welfare of farm family children, children employed in agriculture, and children visiting farms. Beginning at age 7–10 years, farm children start assisting in farm operations by performing a wide variety of work tasks. In addition, farm children are exposed to all of the risks of rural living: increased risk of injury from on and offroad vehicles, drowning, fires, the direct and indirect effects of interpersonal family violence, and often remote or inadequate access to acute and primary health care. US farm children are not protected against occupational hazards under the Fair Labor Standards Act, which provides protections to nonfarm youth, including legally mandated limits on the number of hours worked and protection against hazardous working conditions.

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