Farm Safety

Agriculture is the second most hazardous industry in the nation. It is important to guarantee your safety and the safety of those around you when working on the farm.

Signs and Symbols
Signs and decals should be posted on and around dangerous equipment and other areas to serve as a reminder that caution should be exercised. In order for these signs to be completely effective, all family members must know what they mean, and understand the importance of following directions.

Make sure that you have appropriate warning signs on tractors and other such equipment, chemical storage sheds, gasoline tanks, grain bins, manure pits, overhead transmission lines, bulk fertilizer tanks and confinement buildings.

Tractors and Farm Machinery
Following safe practices and maintaining a safe attitude will help to increase tractor safety on your farm. Remember that fatigue, stress, medication, alcohol and drugs will affect your operation of the machinery, so make sure that you are properly prepared to operate it.

Be sure to inspect the tractor for any possible hazards, and repair them immediately. Always keep others away from the tractor operation area, and never allow "extra riders," especially children.

All Terrain Vehicles
Along with the increased use of ATVs for work and recreation on many farms and ranches, comes an increase of serious injuries and even deaths resulting from improper use. Safety should be your priority when operating ATVs.

Operators should always wear the appropriate riding gear, including DOT-Snell ANSI- approved helmet, goggles, gloves, over-the-ankle boots, long-sleeve shirt and long pants. Children should never be allowed to operate ATVs unless they have had training, even then their use should be restricted to appropriately sized vehicles.

Be sure to read the owners manual, and never carry extra riders. ATVs were not meant for more than one rider.

Child Safety
Thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths occur each year to children on farms. Children should not be allowed to roam freely, instead establish an area near the house where the children can play safely. All hazardous areas should be equipped with childproof locks and latches so that children cannot enter.

If your children are old enough to work on the farm, they should be assigned age-appropriate tasks, with plenty of supervision. Each year, over 100 children are killed and 100,000 are seriously injured because of incidents involving agricultural machinery, livestock, falls, or other events. Parents should never mistake physical size and age for ability, overestimate developmental capabilities, or underestimate levels of risk.

Handling Livestock
Injuries occur each year to farm workers handling livestock. Although these injuries are less severe than those sustained in other farm accidents, they require the same degree of prevention. Make sure that livestock pens and handling facilities are in good repair, and that each is equipped with an emergency exit. It is important to remember that animals can have unpredictable behavior, so if it is necessary to use restraining equipment, make sure that it is in good condition and that you know how to use it properly.

As with all other areas of the farm, keep children and bystanders out of livestock handling areas. They may not understand the common instincts and behaviors of the animals and could easily be injured.

Poisons and Pesticides
In order to protect crops from insects, rodents, weeds, fungus and diseases it is often necessary to use some form of chemical crop protection. These chemicals must be handles with extreme care to prevent potential worker exposure. Make sure that workers read the label before using any chemical. The label will provide information on proper use, safe handling, storage and first aid.

Acquire a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each chemical that you use. These sheets contain health hazard data, spill or leak procedures, and handling information. Also, be sure to wear protective clothing and equipment, and keep the chemicals in storage areas that can be locked and appropriately labeled.

Other Farm Hazards
As with any other facility, be sure to practice fire safety measures on the farm as well. A fire extinguisher should be kept in each of the buildings, and any potential fire hazards should be properly taken care of to reduce the risk of fire. In addition, each building should be outfitted with an appropriately stocked first aid kit.

Grain bins can be the cause of injuries, illness, and even deaths on the farm from entrapment and suffocation. Workers should wear NIOSH-approved dust-filtering respirators, a safety harness, and a safety line when working in and around grain handling areas. Make sure that there are other workers outside the bin who can lift the worker out of the bin should the need arise. Flowing grain can trap and suffocate an individual in seconds.

There are two more confined hazards that can claim lives- silo gas and manure gas. These gases can kill with even small exposure, and manure gas can be explosive. If entrance into silos and manure pits is necessary, the worker should wear a self-contained breathing apparatus and a safety harness. Both areas should be well ventilated and amply labeled as to their danger.