Protecting Agriculture’s Future – National Farm Safety & Health Week 2022
It’s National Farm Safety and Health Week this week and each day we will share a topic that’s very important in the day to day in the Ag industry. For more information, please visit The National Education Center for Agricultural Safety website. #NFSHW22 #USAgCenters #NECASAG
Monday, September 19th: Tractor Safety & Rural Roadway Safety
“Being seen is being safe.” Increasing visibility with good lighting and marking on farm equipment is a practical way for drivers of farm equipment to protect themselves and others from the risk of roadway incidents and crashes. Rollover Protection structures (ROPS) are 99% effective in preventing injury or death in the event of an overturn when used with a seatbelt. Tractors are nearly universal on the farm. While an essential piece of equipment, tractors are also a leading cause of death for farmers and farmworkers. Practice safety when operating tractors. Rural roads pose special dangers with cures, two-way traffic, slow-moving farm vehicles, wildlife, narrow lanes, and more. Everyone has a part when driving in rural areas. Both farmers and community members need to stay informed, aware, and patient when sharing the roads.
Tuesday, September 20th: Overall Farmer Health
Farmers, farmworkers, and producers face potentially life-threatening risks from hazards like exposure to chemicals and irritants, wildfires, and extreme temperatures and conditions. Farming is a dangerous and physically demanding job. Everyday farmers and farmworkers risk injury from farm equipment, livestock loud noises, zoonotic diseases, respiratory exposures, repetitive motion, falls, slips, trips and more. Farm stress is real, and many things like, weather events, tragedies, market grief, diseases can tip stress out of our comfort zone. If you’re a farmer, rancher, or farmworker, you already know that your work can expose you to a variety of hazards. Whether these are physical, mental, environmental, or social, they are all intertwined.
Wednesday, September 21st: Safety & Health for Youth in Ag
It’s never too early to start a conversation with kids about farm safety. Protect the most important thing you’ll ever raise. Do all you can to make your farm safe for children. Keep young children out of the worksite and create areas for safe play. About every three days, a child dies in an agriculture-related incident and each day, and about 33 children are seriously injured.
Thursday, September 22nd: Confined Spaces
Do you know what mask should be used for each task? Respirators and face masks are used often in agriculture. Breathe better when an N95 Respirator – dusty environments on the farm can cause damage to your lungs and respiratory system. Protect yourself with a two-strap, NIOSH-approved N95 filtering facepiece respirator. 5 seconds – that’s how quickly a person can become entrapped in flowing grain and unable to free themselves. Be cautious of confined space hazards like manure and silo gas! These gasses can be fatal even when you can’t smell them. Don’t go in without a monitor and protect yourself from injury or death. Hazardous gasses on farms can be found in silos, manure storages, grain bins, and other confined spaces. Be in the know of the hazardous gasses and where they can be found on the farm.
Friday, September 23rd: Safety & Health for Women in Ag
Women have significant exposure to agricultural work and therefore related health and safety risks from farm exposures. Based on the 2017 Census of Agriculture, women represent 36% of all American agricultural producers, which is an increase of about 5% since the 2012 Census. Over the years, the women’s role in agriculture continues to change as more women are involved in a broader aspect of farm and ranch responsibilities. Women are more likely to have livestock operations than traditional field crops. Farm and ranches operated by women typically involved less than 180 acres.