Working in and around grain bins exposes farmers and workers to serious hazards, including grain bin entrapment and engulfment. Despite more grain safety awareness, farmers continue to be at more risk due to more on-farm storage, farmers hanging onto their grain longer, and having larger unloading mechanisms that can entrap or engulf someone more quickly. 70% of engulfment happens on the farm. To combat these higher risk growers can utilize good grain storage practices to minimize the need to enter a bin.

Topics: coring, grain quality, grain storage, stored grain, Coring Bins, Smell Test, CO2 Monitor, Carbon Dioxide Monitor

Let’s keep combine fire prevention as one of our priorities as we are abnormally dry in many crop-producing areas. Combine fires cost growers millions in damages each harvest and in a very dry year like this, the potential is even higher.

Topics: fire, combines, Combine Fire Checklist, Maintenance and Cleaning, Combine Fire Prevention, Fire Preparedness Checklist , Spotters

 

Over the next several months' many growers will be harvesting and filling grain bins. A grain bin is a confined space and is also a Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS), however, on most farms it is not thought of that way. Today I’d like to shed some light on confined space permits to have people more comfortable about the important role it plays in keeping people safe.  I will take you through a couple areas of a confined space entry permit. See link; Sample Confined Space Permit

Topics: lockout-tagout (LOTO), Confined Space Permit, Grain Bin Entry, Permit-Required Confines Space Permit, Electrical Safety

Have you ever had the “safety talk” with your employees?

Topics: safety culture, Safety, Safety Talk, commitment to safety, Would you watch our for my safety, trusted advisor, hazard recognition, hazards, Distracted

August is a good time to take pause and check your inventory of PPE before going into harvest. 

No matter what you do, you have a reason to work safely and watch out for the safety of others.  Purchase quality products that meet safety standards and are appropriate for work you will be doing. Employees are more likely to wear PPE products that fit well and are comfortable.

       

Topics: farm, personal protective equipment (PPE), respiratory protection, Hand Protection, Eye protection, Hearing Protection, PPE Inventory, COVID-19

 Utility Task Vehicles (UTVs) are common on many farm operations with many uses, attachments and benefits.  They can go by a variety of names such as side by sides (SxSs) and multipurpose recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs) and I'm sure many more.  Many if not all also double as a recreational vehicle with high performance features.  That being said, power and speed are key components of agricultural  injuries and fatalities.

What should you know when having employees operating UTVs in "non-recreational" farm tasks?  

Topics: safety culture, farm, ROV, Operator Responsibility, UTV, Utility Task Vehicle, Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle, Rollover Protective Structures, ROPS

This winter, are you prepared for the "silent killer"? When the cold weather comes and working indoors becomes more necessary, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning increases. You may keep your equipment running indoors and think, "It's just for a little bit, I'll be okay." But even a little carbon monoxide exposure makes an impact on your body and health. Make sure you and your employees are up to date and trained on how to avoid and respond to this deadly gas. 

 

 

Topics: carbon monoxide

Over the last ten years, grain dust explosions have occurred at an average of 10 explosions per year. You might look at that number and think that grain dust explosions aren't something you need to worry about. However, the magnitude of these explosions can be devastating. These explosions can bring down entire operations, causing injuries and even fatalities. But with prevention, grain dust explosions can be avoided.  

Topics: grain bins, dust explosions

Anhydrous ammonia (NH₃₎ is the perfect example of something that's commonly found in agriculture, but is also really dangerous. Because it's so common, people grow very comfortable using and being around it and forget that it's a hazardous chemical.

Anhydrous ammonia causes serious injuries, like severe frostbite, serious burns, blindness, suffocation or lung damage, and even death, all in a matter of seconds. Many injuries can be avoided by properly handling the product and respecting it each and every time you work with it. Personal protection is the responsibility of the employer and the employee.

Topics: anhydrous ammonia, first aid, personal protective equipment (PPE)

It's time to talk about respiratory protection

When it comes to your health, have you ever thought, "I wish someone would've warned me about this a long time ago?" Don't let this happen to your employees. 

Most respiratory protection isn't mandated, and employees may not know enough to protect themselves.  It's the responsibility of a business to educate their employees, so they can take responsibility for their health and make informed decisions that will protect their health now and in the future. If you as an employer fail to educate in the first place, employees will pay a health price long term.

That’s why the topic of non-mandated respiratory protection is so important. In particular, the voluntary use of a disposable particulate dusk mask, also referred to as filtering face piece, mechanical filter or particulate respirator.   

 

Topics: air/respiratory, non-mandated respiratory protection, respiratory protection, PAPR, dual cartridge respirator, respirable dust, respirators, N95 disposable respirator, half mask respirator, powered air purifying respirator