Safety Tips

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Safety Tips-For Older Farmers

The physical capabilities of older farmers vary by individual. While some people maintain good strength, flexibility, eyesight, and hearing well beyond age 65, others do not. In addition, these physical changes may occur gradually over the years, or in a relatively short period of time.

… farmers need adequate muscle strength and mobility to safely complete a task. Both muscle strength and mobility decrease with age, but are important in many agricultural tasks. For example, strength and flexibility are needed to lift, carry, and load objects; feed and care for livestock; mount and dismount tractors and machinery; and climb ladders and stairs…

Knowing your limitations will keep you safer and perhaps save your life…

Safety for Older Farmers {in PDF format}

~~~from the web~~~

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Safety Tips-Surviving Tractor Overturns

You are not in control of the tractor if the front wheels lift from the ground when engaging the clutch or starting up slopes or if the front wheels slide when attempting turns.

Extra rear weights are needed when using front-end loaders to maintain traction on the rear wheels. Rear ballast can be wheel weights, fluid in the tires or a heavy implement on the 3-point hitch. Losing traction on the rear wheels can be disastrous since movement and braking is accomplished by the rear wheels.

Surviving Tractor Overturns {PDF format}
~~~from the web~~~

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Safety Tips-Coming Back From Disaster...

Coming Back From Disaster…

[/b] Jerry Dietz will always carry in his right arm a reminder of just how dangerous farming can be.[/b]

In two seconds, a simple mistake on Jerry's part altered his life. He stepped inside the silo with the auger running and moved too near the spinning steel. The auger grabbed his clothing, ripped through the material, and entangled his arm, nearly severing it at the shoulder. He was able to struggle free of the auger to save his life…

Coming Back From Disaster…The whole story…</font color=blue>

 

[RichZ]

Re: Safety Tips-Coming Back From Disaster...

Good article, John. It just shows that you have to think before you act, no matter how old you are.

Rich
"What a long strange trip it's been."

 

[forestcreature]

Re: Safety Tips -Preventing Tractor Side Turnovers

thanks john for all of the effort you have put into this forum.

thanks to all of you for helping me to be safer
[i am waiting for warmer weather to install the new tilt meters]

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Safety Tips-Farm Safety...

During fall corn harvest, a fine dust settles like a silk throw over many surfaces on tractors and machinery. As Jere Wingert stepped back to the cab, the soles of his work boots slipped on the dusty platform above the auger. As he fell, Wingert could feel his left leg wrap twice around the whirling auger, breaking bones and stretching muscles. He couldn't feel his right leg, so he assumed it had been severed. Wingert managed to catch himself as he fell, keeping his upper body out of the machine….

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://aginfo.psu.edu/psa/fw98/farm.html>Farm Safety is no accident…and the rest of the story...</A>

~~~from the web~~~

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Safety Tips-ROPS & Seat Belts...

ROPS and Seat Belts

A case example

This farmer drove an average of three times a day, 20 days per month for 25 years and never had an overturn during 18,000 tractor driving events. He knows people who died in overturns. He believes that in an overturn a ROPS and a seat belt provide great protection. But he says, “ROPS are not worth the cost and effort.”

During his 26th year of farming the farmer overturns his tractor and becomes a paraplegic. Thereafter he insists that his tractors be fitted with ROPS and seat belts to protect his wife and other family members.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nasd/docs4/kysourcematerials/WTP%20Charts.ppt>ROPS & Seatbelt Study saving your life…</A> (Powerpoint Slide Demo)
~~from the web~~~

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Safety Tips-Ag/Farm Facts...

The Plain Facts ... About the Agricultural Industry

Farming is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States.

Mechanical, chemical and environmental hazards may increase the risk of accident for agricultural workers. Most farm and ranch accidents are preventable.


Over 700 farmers and ranchers die in work-related accidents yearly.

Many of these injuries occur when farm tractors roll over on the operator and its passengers. Another 120,000 agricultural workers suffer disabling injuries from work-related accidents.


Farm and ranch women are among those at risk in work- related accidents.

Their involvement with livestock and farm equipment puts them at greater risk to work injuries. Power Take-Offs (PTOs) and the moving parts associated with some farm equipment may entangle loose clothing or catch long hair.


Senior farmers are at increased risk from farm accidents and injuries.

Farmers no longer retire at age 65 -- many farm well into their 70s. Senior farmers often take prescribed medications, work with physical disabilities, and/or suffer from hearing loss. All these factors may increase senior farmers' risk for work-related injuries and death.


Children are at special risk from farm-related accidents.

Most of the 200-plus deaths among children on farms result from being innocent bystanders or passengers on farm equipment. Surveys indicate that many farm children are working in dangerous environments by the age of 10.


Farmers are not using life-saving rollover seat belts.

Only half of the farm tractors used on U.S. farms are equipped with life-saving rollover protective structures (ROPs) with seat belts. Many farm tractors were manufactured prior to the voluntary installation of ROPs with seat belts, while some newer tractors have had their ROPs removed by the owner.


Farmers are not taking advantage of injury-preventing safety equipment.

Most farm tractors are only designed for one person. Extra riders on farm tractors is discouraged due to the hazard associated with falling from the tractor or falling into the path of trailing equipment. Carrying passengers may divert the attention of the driver from the important task of operating the tractor.


Emergency medical care is not readily accessible to farmers and ranchers.

The isolated nature of farms and ranches in our nation's rural areas creates difficult conditions for emergency medical service providers. Farmers and ranchers often work alone and may become entrapped, entangled or disabled for precious hours before they receive medical attention.
~~~from the web~~~

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Safety Tips-There Are No Accidents...

...But there is something even more tragic when good work on the farm goes wrong. You can see it written on the faces and in the lives of those who have been through it. All too often they are living with the painful truth that the so-called accident easily could have been prevented.

Those who have lost someone in a farm work incident may struggle for years with guilt and regrets, their minds telling them, "If only we could have a chance to go back and do it over again."

This has led some farm health professionals to stop using the term "farm accident" all together. "The word 'accident' denotes an act of God...something over which you have no control," explained Barbara Lee, Director of the National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety, a program of the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin.

"But the overwhelming percentage of farm injury incidents is predictable and therefore preventable," she said, adding, "They really are not accidents at all."

~~~from the web~~~

 

[jhburke]

Re: Safety Tips-There Are No Accidents...

I agree it is like when I was selling insurance many years ago.
A company rep was explaining about terminology. One thing he said was that pregnancey was not an accident nor a disease. JIM