Thank you. It’s not hard to say, but until this time of year, many of us rarely slow down enough to think about what we’re truly thankful for in our lives. Here at Good Days Work, we have so much to be thankful for—our families, our health, the opportunities ahead—the list could go on and on. But, first and foremost, we are thankful for you, the farm families that serve our communities.

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?

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.

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

As 2015 is winding down, we’re reflecting on last years Top 10 Osha’s violations. Each year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, names the most cited violations it encountered during its workplace safety inspections that year. 

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.

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?

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.

As we mentioned earlier this month, chainsaws are a necessary—and dangerous—piece of equipment that is designed to make the job of cutting wood faster and easier.