C U Safe
Foot
Injuries
Foot
injuries account for almost 10% of all industrial incidents. They cost American businesses millions of
dollars in lost work, medical bills, and wage compensation claims. Experience shows that most of these injuries
can be reduced in severity by safety shoes.
The
foot and toes can be injured in several different ways. The type of protection needed will depend on
what the potential hazard is and what the work environment is like.
Impact
Injuries:
These
are injuries caused by objects falling onto the foot or toe. The objects do not have to be heavy to cause
damage and a trip to the emergency room.
Compression
Injuries:
These
injuries are the result of the foot or toe being squeezed or pressed by a heavy
load.
Puncture
Injuries:
These
injuries are common when a sharp object pierces the shoe.
Fungal
Disease:
Warm,
moist environments promote the growth of fungi.
Keeping the foot dry is the best way to protect against these fungal
diseases.
Slips
and Falls:
Slips
and falls, while technically not a foot injury, are often times caused by poor
footwear.
When purchasing safety shoes:
Protection: Do you need full foot protection or just
toes? Do you need puncture resistant
protection?
Waterproofing: Are you going to be working in wet conditions?
Support: Do you need ankle support? If so, higher tops
allow more support.
Soles: Do you need slip resistance, anti-static, or heat
resistance? The heavier the sole, the
more the shoe will weigh.
Comfort: Make sure the shoe fits and is comfortable to
wear!
Make
sure safety shoes meet ANSI requirements when purchasing. The shoe should be marked with the label
“Z41”. ANSI (American National Standards Institute) sets requirements that
personal protective equipment must meet in order to be safety equipment.
Safety shoes come in three capacities:
Light
Duty:
I/30
protects from up to 30 foot pounds
of impact
C/30
protects from 1000 pounds of
compression
Medium
Duty:
I/50
protects from up to 50 foot pounds
of impact
C/50
protects from 1750 pounds of
compression
Heavy
Duty:
I/75
protects from up to 75 foot pounds
of impact
C/75
protects from 2500 pounds of
compression
Other
features include:
MT:
Metatarsal protection for the top of the foot
CD:
Conductive
EH:
Protects against electrical hazards
PR:
Puncture Resistance to protect bottom of foot
SD: Static Dissipative
This information was
obtained from an article by Keith Addition & Art Bleich in “S.A.G.E.
(Safety for AGricultural Educators)”,
Electrical
Safety
Why
do electrical incidents such as shock and electrocution occur?
One
reason for shocks or electrocutions is unsafe conditions. Improper grounding, loose connections,
damaged/faulty insulation, unguarded parts, or product defects typically
comprise unsafe conditions. The second
reason for these incidents is unsafe acts.
Unsafe acts can range from failure to shut off electricity to the use of
equipment near power sources or intentional use of unsafe equipment. The severity of the incident depends on the
current passing through the body and the pathway that this current takes.
Around
the home/farm, where should I look for such unsafe conditions?
Most outside wires do not have insulation. Do not install roof top antennas near
overhead power lines; keep them a safe distance away. You should also keep ladders away from power
lines when working on/around barns, homes, etc.
Make sure all equipment is properly grounded. Check electrical cords/extension cords for
fraying or cuts. Tools should be either
grounded or double insulated.
Ground-fault circuit interrupters should be installed on all outdoor
receptacles and wet/damp locations.
How
can I avoid these situations when working with equipment around the farm?
Know
the location of power lines when transporting equipment such as
augers/conveyors, combines, or other tall machinery. Know the height of this
equipment when transporting. Machinery
should be lowered before traveling near/under power lines. Have someone watch for you when moving this
equipment. Remember to transport them
low and slow.
Should
I be aware of any other equipment concerns?
Be
aware of where power lines are located when handling irrigation pipe
sections. Store these pipes/equipment
away from power lines. Do not attempt to
remove a pipe yourself if it should come in contact with a power line. One should not spray water directly on power
lines when using irrigation systems.
This also holds true for manure applications.
How
can I maintain the power lines on my property?
YOU
DON’T!!! Never touch power
lines. Never move or raise a power
line. Do not clear trees or limbs from
power lines. Contact your local electric
utility if a line is down or a tree or limb has fallen on a power line. They are responsible for maintaining the
power lines and system.
What
are some other Do’s and Don’ts?
Make sure all underground electrical lines have been
marked before digging. Do not burn under
power lines if you are clearing land or burning off crop residue.
Highway
and Transportation Safety
The
following section describes the standards developed by the American Society of
Agricultural Engineers that applies to agricultural equipment on roadways.
Self-Propelled Equipment
· Two headlamps
· Two red tail lamps visible from rear
· Work lamps projecting to the rear shall be off during highway travel
· Two amber flashing warning lamps, visible from both the front and rear
· Two red reflectors, visible from the rear
· SMV emblem, visible from the rear
· On equipment over 12 ft. wide, conspicuity materials should be displayed, visible from both front and rear
· Turn indicators
· A seven-terminal electrical connector
Non-Self-Propelled Equipment
Marking:
· SMV
Emblem shall be displayed if equipment obscures SMV emblem of propelling
machine or if equipment extends more than 16.4 ft to the rear of the hitch
point
· One
amber or yellow reflector visible from the front and two red reflectors visible
from the rear - For equipment extending more than 4 ft to the left of center of
the propelling machine (the two red reflectors applies to equipment that
extends more than 4 ft. to the right as well)
· Conspicuity
material visible - For equipment extending more than 12 ft wide or extending
more than 6 ft to the left of center
· Two
red reflectors visible from rear - For equipment extending more than 4 ft to
the rear of the hitch point
· Amber
or yellow reflectors visible from the left and right sides - For equipment
extending more than 16.4 ft to the rear of the hitch point
Lighting:
· Two
red tail lamps, two amber flashing warning lamps (visible from the rear), or
turn indicators are required if their counterparts on the propelling machine
are obscured
· Two
amber flashing warning lamps (only one needed on equipment extending to one
side or the other) and two red tail lamps - For equipment more than 12 ft wide,
extends more than 6 ft right or left of the center line of the propelling
machine, or extends more than 25 ft from the hitch point
· Seven terminal plugs for operating
illumination system.
Slow Moving
Vehicle (SMV) Emblem
· Located on any animal-drawn or
motorized conveyance traveling 25 mph or less
· Should be mounted with the point of the
triangle upward
· Mounted in a plane perpendicular to the
direction of travel
· Located 2 to 10 feet above the ground
as measured from the lower edge of the emblem
· Displayed
as near to the rear and centered, or as near to the left of center of the
vehicle or equipment as practical
· Should be kept clean and in good
condition
· At night be visible as a red hollow
triangle
· During daylight be visible as a
red-orange fluorescent triangle
· Should not be mounted on stationary
objects such as mailboxes, or used as driveway markers
References:
Lighting and Marking
of Agricultural Field Equipment on Highways. (ANSI/ASAE S279.10) ASAE
Standards 1999. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1999.
Slow-Moving Vehicle
Identification Emblem. (ASAE S276.5) ASAE Standards 1998. American
Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1998.
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.