National Farm Health and Safety Week Encourages Working Together For Safety

The National Farm Health and Safety Week Sept. 15-21 is a time to pause and think seriously about safety on your farm or ranch. This year’s theme is Working Together for Safety in Agriculture.

“What is so wonderful about working in agriculture is neighbors will step in and help. If someone is ill or injured and can’t get a crop harvested or cattle gathered, you often hear about neighbors simply showing up and lending a helping hand,” says Monica Switzer, chair of the Montana Farm Bureau Health and Safety Committee. “Often a few neighbors will share machinery to save costs, or loan a piece to a neighbor who has had a serious equipment breakdown. However, make sure you know what you’re doing before you climb onto a piece of machinery.”

Switzer points out that knowing the machinery you are operating is essential to overall safety for yourself and other around you. “Take time to look at machinery and ask questions about how to run unfamiliar equipment. Never take for granted that you know how to operate a piece of machinery only to end up needing help yourself later. “

Newer computerized machinery can  make the job easier once you get to know it, but can cause some hesitation that could be life threatening.  Know the little things, like the location of fire extinguishers on equipment, and know how to apply brakes and shut-off systems.

Switzer encourages farmers to be cognizant of the clothing they wear, especially while running machinery like grain augers. Loose clothing and flapping coats can spell disaster if grabbed by a spinning auger.

Since grain harvest is underway or even completed in Montana, it’s imperative to have safety in mind when working around grain bins. Grain bin fatalities happen. It takes only five seconds for a person to be caught in flowing grain, and less than 20 seconds to be sucked into the center of the grain and that time is less for a child. “Kids should never be allowed to play in or around grain bins and grain trucks,” cautions Switzer.

“I don’t think we can stress ATV safety often enough, from wearing a helmet, boots and other appropriate clothing, to not taking a second rider,” says Switzer. “ATVs are a huge cause of several injuries and fatalities in our industry.”

“It’s important to slow down and think before starting any equipment, making repairs or heading out to the field to harvest.  Make sure the ‘hurries of harvest’ don’t result in bad decisions that lead to an accident. The consequences of the accident may be worse than trying to meet a hectic harvest schedule,” concludes Switzer.

 

Reader Comments(0)