Below are tips to minimize injuries and how to be aware of potential dangers while working on a farm:
Identify Common Hazards
- Animals – injuries inflicted by animals can include bites, kicks, crushing, ramming, trampling, and transmission of certain infectious diseases such as giardia, salmonella, ringworm and leptospirosis
- Chemicals – pesticides and herbicides can cause injuries such as burns, respiratory illness or poisoning
- Confined spaces – such as silos, water tanks, milk vats and manure pits may contain unsafe atmospheres, which can cause poisoning or suffocation
- Electricity – dangers include faulty switches, cords, machinery or overhead power lines
- Heights – falls from ladders, rooftops, silos and windmills are a major cause of injury
- Machinery – hazards include tractors without roll-over protection structures (ROPS), power take-off (PTO) shafts, chainsaws, augers, motorbikes and machinery with unguarded moving parts
- Noise pollution – noise from livestock, machinery and guns can affect your hearing
- Vehicles – crashes or falls from motorbikes, two-wheel and quad bikes, tractors, utes and horses can result in major injuries
- Water – drowning can occur in as little as five centimeters of water. Dams, lakes, ponds, rivers, channels, tanks, drums and creeks are all hazards. Young children are particularly at risk
- Weather – hazards include sunburn, heat stroke, dehydration and hypothermia.
Keep a List of Emergency Contacts
Before talking about how to avoid injuries on a farm, let’s make sure you have a few emergency contacts and protocols in place in case of an accident happening. It’s important to notify family, friends, or farm/ranch help before heading out and performing daily activities. By letting someone know you will be gone for a certain amount of time or doing a particular job, people can be aware if you don’t come back or if you are operating dangerous machinery or animals.
Note Equipment Needing Repair
Things get worn out, especially machinery. Make sure to always double check equipment before operating it. If you see something missing or the machinery is not acting normal, it’s best to try to get it fixed before using it in case of a hazardous situation. Take inventory of loose platforms, missing nails, screws, handrails or obstructed areas. If you do see anything wrong, begin tackling repairs immediately.
Always Use Protective Gear
The most important thing is equipping yourself with the right safety gear. Use protective equipment like seatbelts, gloves, goggles, boots, face shields and appropriate clothing. An untied shoelace, flowing hair or dangling objects on a person have caused serious injuries. Even if you think the job is fast or easy, accidents happen when people are not well prepared for them. Take the time to protect yourself. It’s always better safe than sorry.
Electrical Safety
Electricity can be deadly if operators do not inspect or double check them. Make sure that a safety protocol is in place for checking all electrical components throughout your farm or ranch, including buildings, equipment, individual connections, wiring and breaker boxes, as well as heating and water tanks. If something seems off, call a professional to double check or to fix the problem.
Be Aware of the Weather
It’s important and imperative to keep up on what the weather will be like that day or week to ensure safety for you and everyone around you. Large hail with no rain or a sudden drop in the wind can be warning signs of a tornado. If your employees see signs of threatening weather, make sure they know the procedure for getting to safety, no matter where they are at the time. If it’s winter and icy on the ground, be cautious of operating machinery. Weather is a factor we can’t control, but you can be proactive about staying safe.
Water Safety.
Drowning can occur in as little as five centimeters of water. Dams, lakes, ponds, rivers, channels, tanks, drums and creeks are all hazards. Young children are particularly at risk, but even adults are at risk too. If you are working in water, try to have a floating device near you in case a cramp or exhaustion occurs.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
When working with machinery or animals, make sure you are aware at all times. Accidents happen when they are least expected, so expect things before they happen. Make sure you are well rested and take breaks when you need to rest. Feeling fatigued while working with equipment or animals can be very dangerous.
Animal Safety
Farm animals can be unpredictable and it’s hard to detect their moods sometimes. Be cautious when working with or around animals. One basic tip for working with animals is to treat them with respect. Horses act differently than cows or bulls, so research what specific animals you have and the warning signs they give to indicate a possible shift in their moods or behavior so you will be ready for their actions. Put up protective fencing around the area the animals inhabit and be aware of where they are at all times.
Inspect Grain Bins
Preseason and postseason, do a thorough inspection of your grain bins. Check the walls, roof and foundation for issues. Make sure all fans and conveyors are working properly. Verify that signage is visible. Remove objects that clutter walkways and could lead to fall injuries. Also, discuss the importance of cleaning spilled whole grain and dust with your employees.
Many farmers and ranchers are aware of how to operate machinery and equipment, as well as what to look out for, but it never hurts to refresh your memory and knowledge when it comes to safety. As a supporter of our farmers, and the largest seller of farmland in Oklahoma, United Country Heard Auction and Real Estate wants to make sure you know the risks to look out for and how to take better precautions so harmful accidents don’t occur.
Links:
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/farm-safety-risks-and-hazards
https://www.fbfs.com/learning-center/10-tips-to-help-you-avoid-injury-on-your-farm-or-ranch