10 Farm Safety Tips
December 28, 2010 10 farm safety tips from the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE):
1. Educate yourself about farm equipment. Read and follow all instructions according to the equipment’s operation manual. Attend farm safety workshops in your local area to become familiar with specific equipment and products. Contact your local Cooperative Extension or Farm Bureau office for information about programs, training and other resources relating to farm safety.
2. Conduct regular equipment inspections, as this act can prevent farm-related injuries by identifying problems and hazards early.
3. Do not wear loose clothing while entering confined spaces such as grain bins, silos and hoppers to prevent entanglements.
4. Install Rollover Protection Structures (ROPS) on tractors.
5. Use seat belts while operating all farm equipment, especially tractors with a ROPS. Do not allow additional passengers to ride on the tractor with you.
6. While operating tractors and other farm equipment, be very cautious on rural roadways. Look for oncoming cars while making wide turns. Watch for potholes, ditches and steep hills. Be sure to keep equipment at least 20 feet from any overhead power lines or wires that support poles.
7. Use protective gear when operating machinery and appropriate protective gear for handling chemicals or other hazardous materials. Make sure the protective equipment is approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) or the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
8. Be familiar with hazardous chemicals. Take extra precaution when handling chemicals such as anhydrous ammonia, carbon dioxide, methane gas and hydrogen sulfide. Click here for information on chemicals.
9. Consistently educate your family and co-workers about safety practices, especially children. Make sure children are involved only in age appropriate tasks as describe at www.nagcat.org.
10. Look into receiving proper first aid and emergency training. Have emergency contact information easily available. Visit www.redcross.org for information about CPR and First Aid.
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