National Farm Safety Week: Take It Seriously, Be Proactive

By Jane Fyksen - Crops Editor
Friday, September 22, 2006 11:37 AM CDT

It's National Farm Safety and Health Week, now in its 63rd year.

The theme chosen by the National Safety Council is "Prepare to Prevent."

As Wisconsin's farm families gear up to hit harvest in earnest, Agri-View implores them to keep the pace in check and safety front and center.

The long hours of fall harvest put any farm family at greater risk of injury, but older farmers and those with disabilities are particularly at risk. "Older farmers and ranchers must adjust for the effects of aging. The risk of having an accident increases with age," says Karen Funkenbusch, coordinator of the AgrAbility program at the University of Missouri.

Compared to the general U.S. labor force, farm operators are considerably older. More than a fourth is 65 or older. "Unlike most workers, aging farmers tend to continue farming, which is a physically demanding job. They work long, hard hours in difficult conditions and use heavy equipment. Safety should be their No. 1 concern," Funkenbusch stresses. Younger farmers whose fathers, uncles and even grandfathers might be lending a hand this time of year should watch over their elders and encourage them to take frequent breaks.

"With aging, farmers can face faster onset of fatigue, reduced vision, slower reaction time, hearing loss and arthritis," Funkenbusch reminds. "This can lead to accidents..."

Workers with physical disabilities - including those with arthritis - are at particular risk of sustaining injuries during harvest season. Thousands of producers in Wisconsin have an existing disability that limits their ability to perform work-related tasks. Funkenbusch offers several tips for these farmers:

* Have your eyes checked by a doctor regularly. Remember vision is most difficult at dawn and dusk. Avoid driving tractors during these times.

* Get plenty of rest. Be sure to take frequent breaks to offset fatigue and stress. Periodically stretch arms and legs. This increases blood flow and helps you relax.

* Use extreme caution when operating equipment. Be familiar with side effects of medication, including over-the-counter drugs.

* Recognize and accept your limitations. Check your fields for large rocks, tree stumps, holes and ditches. If you can't remove an object, place warning flags around it.

* Be sure a family member or fellow worker knows where you will be working. Use two-way radios or cell phones as a direct link should an emergency occur.

The very young on farms are also vulnerable. Charles Schwab, farm safety expert with Iowa State University, encourages producers to prevent childhood chemical poisoning, which continues to be a potentially lethal problem when industrial and household cleansers and disinfectants and pesticides are stored or used improperly.

All farm chemicals (including those in the milkhouse) should be kept in secure storage cabinets or facilities that can be easily child and theft-proofed. "It only takes a minute or two for an unattended child to gain access to carelessly stored chemicals. Don't let your little one become one of the hundreds who are poisoned every year in the U.S.," says Schwab.

In work areas, chemical storage cabinets or buildings should have posted signage that clearly indicates the dangers associated with the stored products located within. This enables emergency responders to better understand the potential risks when entering these potentially hazardous areas.

Always make sure that chemical storage areas have readily accessible fire extinguishers of the size and type that are appropriate for suppressing a fire before it burns out of control. Personal protective equipment (PPE) for proper mixing, handling and applying pesticides is very important to the prevention equation. Current information on PPE is found on the product's label and should be closely followed. Don't set a bad example for your children - always wear PPE to protect yourself from chemical exposure, says Schwab.

Where large quantities of chemicals may be stored at least seasonally at your operation, notify local first responders and give them a "heads-up" on the potential danger. They will appreciate your proactive approach to providing them with crucial information that will enable the performance of their duties in a manner that will protect them, your family, facilities and equipment, and the environment, he says.

Penn State's Pesticide Education program has a variety of materials and programs related to household and farm chemical safety for youth and educators. Children learn how to read and understand labels and avoid "look-alike" chemicals that resemble food and drink. Games and puzzles are available. The Penn State Pesticide Education website at www.pested.psu.edu/youth.shtml includes materials for kids and teachers.

ROPS save lives

Agriculture has reclaimed the title of the most deadly industry in the U.S. based on the number of deaths per 100,000 workers. Agriculture had 29.2 deaths per 100,000 worker followed closely by the mining industry with 28.3. Schwab says over a third of agricultural fatalities in his state of Iowa involved a farm tractor. He says the addition of rollover protective equipment (ROPS) would have prevented a majority of these deaths.

Schwab monitors farm-related injuries from news reports. He also analyzes the agricultural injury and fatality information collected by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Of the 16 tractor deaths reported in 2005, 12 happened when the tractor overturned; one person was run over by a tractor; two were the result of traffic collisions or miscellaneous causes. Schwab speculates that people run over by a tractor could have been riders who fell off the vehicle or other people unable to be seen in the work area. More than one-third of the victims were age 65 or older, he adds.

ROPS keep the tractor operator in a safe area if the tractor overturns. Tractors built since 1985 have ROPS as part of their design, but that doesn't solve the problem of older tractors without ROPS being used for risky jobs, such as operation on slopes, he notes.

"Tractors have always been the No. 1 killer on farms, even 40 years ago," Schwab points out. "These deaths also might be age-related because people experience slower reaction times and lose some of their physical abilities as they get older."

Injuries also can increase during busy times, such as harvest. Stresses from external conditions like weather or an uncertain future in agriculture also can increase a person's risk of injury.

"Using the proper safety equipment can go a long ways toward reducing injuries," Schwab stresses. "This year's National Farm Safety Week theme, 'Prepare to Prevent' guides us to improve tractor safety by adding ROPS."

Prepare to prevent eye injuries

Over the last several years, there has been much effort on the part of ag safety professionals to raise awareness of the importance of personal protective equipment (ppe). The safety community has in fact seen some improvements in the use of two-strap respirators, half-face respirators, chemical resistant gloves and hearing protection and foot gear. Although eye protection is equally important, it still seems to be often overlooked.

Eye injuries in agriculture account for numerous trips to emergency rooms and physicians offices each year and can dramatically impact a producer's ability to work. Unprotected vision leaves workers vulnerable to injury from flying objects such as wood, nails, gravel and metal particles; splashes from chemicals or hot liquid; fumes; and ultraviolet rays from welding or sun exposure.

Regular glasses don't protect against eye injuries. Even prescription eyewear classified as shatterproof is no match for flying objects; they can break and the frames are not strong enough to withstand injury producing pressure. Although most agriculture is not under OSHA regulation, safety glasses and goggles that meet OSHA standards are a must on farms. Look for the ANSI standard stamp Z87.

High impact safety glasses are available in prescription and non-prescription models. They are also available in tinted lenses as well as clear lenses and should have side shields to protect from flying objects. Some even offer protection on the top and bottom of the lenses. Durable plastic frames are preferred over metal frames if there is any chance of exposure to electricity or explosive/sparking atmospheres. Safety glasses are also needed under welding face shields and helmets; protection is necessary when the shield and/or helmets are lifted as there is potential exposure to metal fragments, UV rays or infrared light.

Tinted glasses offer protection from harmful sun UV rays; most will block up to 99 percent of ultra-violet rays. Be sure the labels indicate "absorb" or "block". Adults and children of all ages need to wear eye protection when outdoors as early cataract development is linked to UV exposure. Sun glasses on kids are not just "cool" looking - they are important to the safety and health of eyes (young and not so young).

Safety goggles offer protection against dust, splash injuries and sparks. Some models of goggles are vented to allow air circulation around the eyes. Others are indirectly vented or unvented to protect against fume or chemical dangers. Good fit is important when goggles are called for; they need to be comfortable and allow for good vision but also need to fit snug enough to protect from hazards. Many goggle models are made to fit over prescription glasses; some can be fit with prescriptions; and some are tinted. Rigid framed goggles should have sufficient cushioning to protect the tissue around your eyes.

A word about contact lenses: Extreme care is needed when working in areas with potential harmful eye exposures. Contact lenses can trap particles and absorb gases that can cause injury to eyes. Because of the potential for injury, OSHA regulated industry forbids contacts to be worn with respirators and certain substances.

Eye injuries need to be treated immediately! Never rub an injured eye as it will likely cause more harm. For particles in the eye, flush the eye with large amounts of water until the particle comes out. If it is embedded (such as a metal shaving or sliver) cover both eyes and have someone take you to emergency care. If it is a chemical splash, immediately flush for 15 minutes with the eyes open and seek immediate medical attention. Do not bandage the eyes, but do protect them from sun or bright light.

A blow to the eye requires a cold compress for about 15 minutes and immediate medical attention to rule out intraocular or other internal injury. Lacerations in the eye area should be covered with a loose bandage (a cut out paper cup protecting the eye under the bandage is helpful) and seen by a physician immediately. Light induced burns to the eyes often have no symptoms for the first few hours. Eyes may begin to feel sore and gritty or may become red, watery and puffy. It is important to keep the eyes closed as much as possible and have someone take you to the doctor right away.

Finally, remember to check your protective eye wear before each use. Check for bent frames, severely scratched lenses, and damaged headbands. Eye wear is cleaned simple - wash in warm soapy water, air dry and store in a dust proof container.

This year's theme, "Prepare to Prevent," focuses on proactive prevention practices, says John Slocombe, Kansas State University farm safety specialist.

Slocombe suggests the following proactive measures:

* Frequently inspect the farm - buildings, yards, equipment - to identify dangerous areas and where changes need to be made

* Keep a well-stocked first aid kit in all vehicles including tractors and in key out buildings. Check contents at least once a year and restock as necessary

* Make sure all family members and employees know the locations of fire extinguishers and how to use them

* Remove the keys from farm vehicles and equipment when not in use

* Enforce an absolute "no riders" policy for all equipment

* Take the whole family to an all-terrain vehicle safety training course.

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