Farm Safety Week reminds producers to be careful

Friday, September 24, 2004

By Ben Holman

Nevada Daily Mail

According to the National Safety Council, there were 710 farm related fatalities in the U.S. in 2003.

In order to increase awareness of farm safety, Sept,19-25 was chosen as National Farm Safety and Health Week 2004.

Most farm accidents occur during the busy planting and harvest time.

According to University of Iowa statistics, around 23 percent of accidents in 2003 occurred during the harvest months of September and October. The National Safety Council has several tips to improve farm safety.

Slips and falls are the number one cause of injuries to farm workers every year, says the NSC. Falls such as slips from ladders on silos and grain bins, falls while working on slippery surfaces and falls off of machinery.

To minimize the potential for slips and falls the NSC says, "always maintain equipment platforms and steps free of debris and mud or ice."

The organization also suggests that workers wear footwear with proper treads that is in good condition. Farmers should post warning signs near all slippery surfaces in dairy and livestock barns and maintain proper lighting, and never allow children to climb on dangerous ladders or on farm equipment.

In addition to the risk of injury from slips and falls, is the danger of excessive noise. The NSC reports that exposure to excessive noise produced by farm machinery can cause severe hearing loss down the road. Most chain saws and tractors without acoustical cabs produce noise that is in excess of OSHA recommendations.

Hearing loss can seriously affect ability to hear other workers and family members trying to communicate during an emergency.

To avoid the risk of hearing loss, ear protection should be worn at all times when working with loud equipment.

Perhaps the most susceptible to accidental farm injury are children. According to a release from the NSC, Dr. Tom Bean, Ohio State University Extension, said that more than 100 children are killed on farms and ranches each year.

Many of these deaths are due to children riding on farm equipment not designed for extra riders. Young children who ride on equipment can fall off and be run over by tires or by implements trailing the tractor. Since most farm equipment has only one seat, only one person should ride on it.

Another danger to children around the farm comes in the form of chemicals; cleaners, pesticides and other chemicals that are not properly stored are potentially lethal.

At home, the NSC recommends that chemicals be kept in secure storage containers that can be easily child-proofed.

In work areas, chemicals should be kept properly labeled in locked storage cabinets of buildings.

Always make sure that chemical storage areas have fire extinguishers readily available for an emergency.

The National Safety council believes that, "by implementing and practicing safe farming practices; by installing safety guards and retrofits on farm machinery; by following safety recommendations for the storage and use of farm chemicals; and by working closely with organizations and agencies concerned about agricultural and rural safety and health, our nation will continue to be the recognized leader in the production of agricultural commodities."

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