ATVs are a valuable part of many ag operations. They provide an easy method of moving men and materials from one part of the operation to another. However, careless handling of an ATV can result in severe injuries or fatalities. Here are a few tips to reduce the chances that you, your family, or your employees are involved in a serious accident.

While those of us who run ag operations in colder climates are happy about the warmer temperatures that Spring brings, it’s a fact that the mud and rainfall of the season will make our working conditions more treacherous. The risk of slip, trip, and fall injuries increases significantly with the warmer weather – and not just because we can finally get back outside again.

It’s not enough just to know what to do in the event of an emergency, or how to protect yourself while working in the field or around your operation. An important component of ag safety is knowledge and information. Clear and effective communication of the potential hazards of your operation goes a long way toward reducing or eliminating the risk of an accident.

We’ve talked about chemical safety before, but this is the time of year when many of us are applying anhydrous ammonia to our fields, using a wide variety of chemicals and handling thousands of pounds of seed, so here’s a brief refresher on safe handling of farm chemicals.

The machines that most people immediately visualize when they think of agriculture are the large ones – tractors, combines, harvesters, and so on. But many of our tools are handheld. A prime example is the chainsaw. Many farmers sharpen their chains to clear fence rows in the early spring when fields are often too wet for heavy equipment.

Spring is a busy time of year for agriculture operations. One of the first things we do is prepare our fields for the new growing season. In many cases this involves pumping manure to evacuate the pits and fertilize the soil. It’s a process many of us have performed multiple times, so it’s easy to understand how one could become complacent while working around these dangerous spaces. Let’s take a moment to examine some of the common hazards.

Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response. Better known as HAZWOPER. If your operation works with hazardous materials, then this topic is crucial to your interests.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is an important part of running a successful agricultural operation. We’ve talked about PPE in the past, but now we’re going to take a closer look at equipment to keep your eyes and face from injury.

Grass fires area a common hazard in certain parts of the country that are dry for extended periods of time or have periods of dry weather where crop residue, pastures and grasslands are very dry. Nearly half of all agricultural fires involve brush or short grass, making it easy to underestimate their danger.

By now you should have already developed an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for your operation. Your EAP probably includes instructions on how to handle emergencies involving your operation’s day-to-day functions and activities: chemical leaks and spills, fires, use of personal protective equipment, confined spaces – just to name a few.