Spring into Safety Alyssa Dick Program Specialist, Value Added Agriculture Program, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Spring is officially here which means everyone is out and about enjoying the warmer weather. With this also comes increased yard work, field work and other outdoor projects. While we all love being outdoors more, we need to keep in mind some general safety guidelines when working around the farm. Agriculture ranks among the most hazardous industries and those working on a farm or acreage are at very high risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries. Farming is also one of the few industries in which family members are also at risk for on farm injuries. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, about 1,000 farm-related injuries receive medical attention yearly. Review the safety tips from Farm Safety For Just Kids below and work towards keeping yourself and others safe around the farm this year.
An entanglement can occur in the driveline between the tractor and the implement and can cause some of the most serious injuries on the farm. Equipment manufacturers provide shields for PTO drivelines to protect operators and bystanders from becoming entangled in the rapidly spinning shaft. Never step over the PTO even if it is not running. Make a habit of walking around it at all times. Do not wear jewelry or loose clothing and always tie back long hair.
for 43% of vehicle deaths. Families have had a dangerous tradition of allowing children to ride on tractors, but you should never allow a rider on the drawbar, fender, lap, or loader bucket. Riders face the hazard of being run over as they are the first to bounce off the tractor. A rider can also distract the driver or bump controls. Roll Over Protection Structures (ROPS) are not designed to protect riders-only the operator. Many people believe that tractor cabs can keep riders safe. This is not true. A cab is designed to protect only the tractor operator; it does not prevent a rider from being thrown from the cab and run over. Doors might not latch and windows can pop open. And if the tractor overturns, the rider can be thrown or crushed against the tractor frame.
Animal Safety According to National Safety Council, 17% of all farm injuries involve animals. In comparison to humans, animals see in black and white, have difficulty judging distances, have extremely sensitive hearing, are frightened by load noises and high frequency sounds, and are very protective of their young. Many of these factors cause animals to spook and respond skittish and frightened. Even though an animal may look friendly, all animals need to be treated with respect as they can be unpredictable. Teach children to be alert when around livestock and do so yourself. CONTINUED ON PAGE 50
Learning about Power Take-Off (PTO) safety is often one of the first lessons on the farm. Power Take-Offs are used on the farm to transfer power from the tractor to another implement such as a grain auger, manure spreader, mower, or feed grinder, and they are found on most tractors. PTOs operate by turning at speeds of 540 or 1,000 rotations per minute. This speed and the device make the PTO very dangerous.
Tractor Safety Farm machinery, including tractors, is the leading source of fatalities on the farm in the United States. Each year, 250-350 people of all ages die in tractor incidents in the United States. Tractors are the single leading source of fatalities among youth working on the farm; tractors account
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