Your farm-safety program doesn’t have to be complicated, but, for it to work, everyone in the operation needs to buy into it. These seven steps will help you convince managers and employees to take ownership of the safety program and drive the safety agenda.

Ah, the great outdoors—crisp, clean air and the refreshing smell of morning dew! Yes, this is just one of the reasons many of us really love farming. On the other hand, does farming generate  hazards for our respiratory systems? Not only is the answer a resounding “yes,” but some of the most treacherous respiratory dangers are actually unique to farming.

For agribusiness owners making the first-time commitment to implement employee safety training, the question often arises at some point: Will videos alone satisfy OSHA requirements, or do I have to hire a safety expert to come on site and conduct some kind of formal training?

It's easy to take everyday safety measures for granted when you've got years of farm experience. You get used to going through the motions and repeating many of the same duties day in, day out.

Summer is a busy time for farm operations and their employees. As the days get longer and hotter, it’s important to keep your farm family safe.

The success of any safety and health program on your farm depends on careful planning. This means that you must take the time to analyze what you want to accomplish and develop an action plan to attain these goals.  This is true for operations with existing safety programs and for farms just beginning to implement a program.

Slips, trips and falls constitute the majority of general industry accidents.

Agriculture is no different than any other industry when it comes to slips, trips and falls (STF’s). Similar to construction, changes in walking surfaces is part of the landscape. STF’s are a major challenge for safety managers and account for roughly 15.2% of all injuries that require time off work.

Traditional Solutions                                                                                     

Most traditional solutions zero in on physical factors like obstructions, wet and slippery floors and uneven surfaces. Those issues are commonly addressed in three ways:

• rules and procedures
• regular maintenance
• proper equipment

A sound housekeeping plan, warnings of raised surfaces and employing anti-slip materials go a long way to prevent STFs in the traditional sense.

What About Non-Traditional Solutions?

5 STEP PLAN  -  MOST SECCESSFUL PROGRAMS HAVE AT LEAST THESE 5 ELEMENTS TO THEIR PLAN:

When you’re that “person” responsible for servicing or maintaining a piece of equipment, you want “peace of mind” knowing that nobody could or any situation could accidently startup that equipment while you’re working on it. The consequences of unexpected startup or a release of energy to employees can result in irreversible damage such as electrocution, crushing, cutting, burns, amputation and yes even death. Every employer must protect their employees with a LOTO program that ensures their safety. A LOTO program is not complicated to develop and implement, in fact there is plenty of help from OSHA and other sources to help you implement a program to protect your employees and your business.