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Visitor Safety Policies

A working farm is a workplace, even when visitors are welcome. A clear policy protects guests, workers and you, and makes visits more relaxed for everyone.

Why do you need a visitor policy?

Visitors may not realize how many hazards a farm contains. Vehicles move in unexpected places, animals can be unpredictable, machinery may start without warning, and surfaces can be slippery or uneven. Children can be especially curious and fast.

A policy turns good intentions into steps people can follow. It also helps your family and workers know what to do when someone arrives.

Visitors include more than guests. Delivery drivers, inspectors, salespeople, neighbors and friends all count.

What should the policy cover?

Keep it short and practical. Say who may visit, how they check in, where they park, where they may go and what is off limits. Say who meets and accompanies them and what the rules are for children, pets and photography.

Write the policy in plain language and share it in advance with scheduled visitors.

Write a short welcome message that sets a friendly tone, such as thanking people for coming and explaining that the rules are there to keep everyone safe. People follow rules better when they understand the reason.

• A single place to arrive, park and check in.
• A person who greets and accompanies visitors.
• Areas that are strictly off limits.
• Rules for children, including constant adult supervision.
• Rules for pets, which are often best left at home.
• A way to ask visitors about health needs, if relevant.
• What to do in an emergency.
• A reminder that visitors should not touch animals, equipment or stored materials unless invited.
• A rule that anyone who feels unwell should tell the host right away.

How do you control access?

Use physical measures along with signs. Gates, fences, and parking areas away from work spaces help. Stop equipment and secure it when visitors are near. Never rely on a sign alone.

Schedule visits for times when hazardous work is not happening. Tell your workers when visitors are expected so that they can watch for them.

Train your family and workers on how to greet visitors, how to politely redirect someone who has wandered into a restricted area and who to tell if they see a problem.

How do you protect children?

Children must be supervised by an adult at all times. Set rules about where they can walk and which animals or equipment they may approach. Keep them away from machinery, manure storage, ponds, grain bins, chemicals and loading areas.

Hand-washing and hygiene near animals matter too. Follow the guidance of public health authorities and extension on animal contact and food safety, and do not state health rules from memory.

Take particular care when machinery is moving, such as at harvest time, and consider restricting visits to quieter periods.

What about agritourism and public events?

Farms that welcome the public for tours, pick-your-own, markets or events may face extra requirements, such as insurance, licenses, signage and liability rules. These differ by state and county. Check with your state agriculture department, your extension office, your local government and your insurance carrier.

Do not copy another farm's policy without review. Your hazards are your own.

Keep a visitor log with names and arrival times so that you know who is on the property if there is an emergency, and handle the information with care.

What should visitors know about emergencies?

Tell visitors who to tell if someone is hurt, and that in an emergency they should call 911. Know your farm's location description and entrance so that you can direct responders. Keep first aid supplies and a working phone accessible, and make sure someone on site has first aid training from a recognized provider such as the American Red Cross.

Do not improvise rescue. Leave that to trained responders.

Prepare for health needs, such as heat, allergies or mobility limits, by offering shade, water, seating and an easy route where you can.

How do you review the policy?

Revisit it each year, and after any incident or close call. Ask workers, family and regular visitors what they notice. Walk the route a visitor takes and see what you might not have seen before.

Record changes and share the latest version with everyone who needs it.

Post the policy where visitors will see it, and have a printed copy for anyone who asks, in the languages your guests commonly use.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.