C U Safe
Spring Cleaning
What
kind of spring-cleaning do you have to do this year? Do you need to clean your gutters? Do you need to paint your eaves and
trim? Do you have a few leaks in your
roof that need repairing?
If
you answered YES to any of these questions that means you will either be
working from a ladder or working on the roof of your house or barn. From either of these two locations, falls are
possible.
Falls
are the leading cause of unintentional death in the home each year. Approximately 9,600 people die each year to
falls in the home. Over 150,000 people
are injured each year while using ladders.
Charles V. Privette, III
Farm
Safety Mini-Grants Reminder
Proposals
will be accepted that address new farm safety
programming efforts and those that support current on-going programs. These proposals can be on the county or
multi-county level.
Proposals will be accepted
until
Questions or inquiries may be directed to Charles Privette, privett@clemson.edu or
864.656.6247.
Home and Farm Safety
One source of falls is the ladder.
This piece of equipment can be found at most every home and farm. Most ladder accidents are due to using the
wrong ladder, failing to inspect the ladder, or from improper use.
The
following are a few tips to make using your ladder safer.
Make
sure the ladder is of the appropriate length.
The ladder should extend 3 feet above the top of the wall. You should also use the 1:4 rule. For every 4 feet of wall height, the ladder
should extend 1 foot from the wall.
Never
use a metal ladder near overhead power lines.
Inspect
the ladder before use (loss or broken rungs, etc).
Set
up on firm, level surface.
Use
two hands while climbing (always face the ladder).
Do
not overreach while on the ladder.
The
following are a few tips to make working on the roof safer.
Inspect
the condition of the roof and watch your step.
Know
where overhead power lines.
Wear
proper clothing (sturdy shoes or boots with nonskid soles).
Do
not leave tools or other loose objects on the roof.
Forage
Safety
Several issues are involved in forage safety.
One important issue is tractor safety as tractors are heavily used in the forage
production process. We must also keep in mind the power requirements of forage
equipment. Because the PTO shaft meets most power needs, PTO safety is also of
great concern. As with all equipment, read and follow the operators manual.
Handling & Storage
Small Square Bales
(Potential Hazards)
Starts/stops can cause bale handler to fall from truck or trailer. Falls from trucks or trailers can cause
serious injury.
Workers throwing bales onto a truck/trailer can be run over.
(Prevention)
Pay
attention, be careful, and maintain both visual and oral communication between
workers.
While transporting hay, travel at slow speeds and do not ride on hay.
Round Bales
Use
the right equipment to move bales.
Equipment should be large enough to handle the bales.
Bales transported by front-end loaders should be secured to the
equipment with bale forks, clamps, or grapples.
This prevents a bale from falling or rolling back onto the operator.
Bales should be transported low and slow.
Other Handling Issues
Weather conditions
are a safety issue as well when it pertains to hay handling. Often, temperature and humidity are high and
it is sunny. Due to this, workers should
avoid prolonged exposure to the elements and take frequent breaks.
Baling
General Balers
Disengage PTO and shut off tractor before working on balers.
Keep
all safety shields and guards in place.
Do
not hand-feed material into baler.
Shut
down baler and tractor to remove a clog.
Round Baler
Before raising rear gate, make sure no one is behind baler.
Discharge bales in a position so they will not roll.
If
the rear gate must be raised, engage the rear gate lock.
Keep
rear gate closed when baler is not being used.
Mowers
Rotary or Sicklebar
Keep
hands and feet away from cutterbar when equipment is running.
Stay
clear of equipment while it is running--objects thrown from mowers can cause
injury.
Check for loose, missing or damaged parts.
To
remove clogs or trash, stop, disengage the PTO, and shut the tractor off. Wait for all moving parts to stop, then
remove clogs or trash (check for any damaged parts).
Gathering Reels and Conditioning Rolls
Reels and tines can pull clothing or appendages into equipment. Make sure PTO is disengaged and equipment is off.
This publication is written
and designed by Charles V. Privette, III. If you have any questions, concerns,
or ideas for future articles, please send to Charles V. Privette, III, 224
McAdams Hall, Box 340357, Clemson, SC 29634-0357, privett@clemson.edu,
or (864)-656-6247.
This publication can be found
at www.clemson.edu/safety/newslett.htm.
Clemson University
Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages,
regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability,
political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or family status and is an equal
opportunity employer.