Good Day’s Work is excited to celebrate National Farm Safety Week this year, and we hope that you will do what you can to join us in our mission to promote a safer environment in agriculture.  Farm injuries and fatalities are preventable through education, and this awareness week serves as a good reminder to rural communities that agriculture is one of the most dangerous occupations in the U.S.

The theme “Farm Safety…A Legacy to be Proud of ” reminds local and rural communities that agriculture is one of the most dangerous occupations in the U.S. The most recent data from the U.S. Department of Labor indicates that in 2014 farming accounted for 568 fatalities, with an estimated 70,000 injuries.

Now is a great time to assess manure pit dangers and bone up on identifying hazardous gases as fall approaches. Many deaths happen late summer and fall when crops come off and producers are emptying pits. Everyone who works in or around manure storage (tanks, pits & lagoons) should understand manure gas hazards.   A good resource for information is the Great Plains Center for Agriculture Health fact sheets at www.gpcah.org.

During harvest, you have a huge amount of work to do within a very short window of time. Put yourself in the best position possible for a safe harvest season by being prepared. Here are some safety tips to think about before harvest and field operations.

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?