A farm—like any other industrial workplace—has its fair share of respiratory hazards that place employees at risk. Some agriculture safety hazards, primarily when transferring or mixing chemicals, involve exposure to dangerous gases, while others, such as grain bins, feed mills, livestock areas or confined spaces with poor ventilation, represent hazards that can naturally cause serious breathing difficulties.

Harvest is a time when many different types of powered equipment will be used and will need to be serviced and repaired. If you’re the person responsible for servicing or repairing a piece of equipment, you want that “peace of mind” knowing that nobody could accidently startup the equipment while you’re working on it.  There is only one way to assure your safety and the safety of employees…. that is with a Lockout-Tagout (LOTO) program.

Agriculture is a dangerous industry. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to make it safer. Below are a few examples of good practices that will make your operation safer.

When you and your harvest crew gear up for fall harvest, we hope you first follow our tips on how to prep your farm for this season. After you have, take a look at these common combine hazards, so you're as safe as possible on the job.

Compared to other industries, farm work is the most dangerous of all. Every year, more than 480 people in the US are killed performing ag-related jobs. Hundreds more are seriously injured. According to OSHA, it is the employer’s responsibility to evaluate the workplace and ensure a risk-free environment.

Slips, trips, and falls in the workplace are no laughing matter. In fact, they account for more than 225,000 injuries a year. And 70% of these incidents occur on level surfaces with falls from less than four feet above ground!

One moment you are having a casual chat with a co-worker over lunch. Suddenly, she grasps her throat and begins to turn blue.  What do you do?

Note: The following is an excerpt from an article published in the November 2015 issue of Feedlot Magazine.

Let’s face it. Common sense isn’t so common anymore. We used to hire kids off the farm who would clock in on day one already knowing how to run equipment, work cattle and stay out of the way when things got dicey. Now, we have to teach them everything under the sun and pray they can figure out the rest.                                                                                                 

Unfortunately, in spite of all that, the industry still suffers its share of feedlot accidents. We hear about employees being run over by feed trucks, dragged by horses, thrown off ATVs or pinched while working cattle. Some accidents cause minor injuries and maybe a brief hospital stay, while others lead to devastating fatalities.

The cost of these accidents escalates along with the cost of medical care. By comparison, the average expense of a chainsaw accident in 1985 was about $3,850. Today, it’s around $55,000—not counting lost wages, disability payments, increased insurance costs and lost productivity.

On the farm, we use our hearing to do our jobs better. The problem is, when it comes to hearing safety, most threats are long term. We don’t sense any immediate harm. This week's farm safety tips address why it’s important to train your employees on hearing protection. 

Earlier this week, we discussed the first fundamental reason for having someone on your staff—even if it’s you—dedicated to safety. Having a single point person fulfilling this role is critical to maintaining the clear, consistent communication that optimizes safety among your employees.