C U Safe
FARM
SAFETY WEEK
SEPT.
19-25, 2004
What does this year’s National Farm Safety and Health Week
theme mean to agricultural producers and the nation?
This
year’s theme “Agricultural Safety & Health Yields for a Lifetime” carries a
strong message about the importance of Safety and Health on
How
will this be accomplished?
By
implementing and practicing safe farming practices; by installing safety guards
and retrofits on farm machinery; by following safety recommendations for the
storage and use of farm chemicals; and by working closely with organizations
and agencies concerned about agricultural and rural safety and health, our
nation will continue to be the recognized leader in the production of
agricultural commodities.
For more information and media kits,
visit the
Youth Agricultural Safety Statistics
An estimated 104 children younger than 20 die of agricultural
injuries on US farms annually. Approximately 22,650 injuries occurred to
children under the age of 20.
Children
who live, work, or visit a farm have an agricultural -related injury rate of
12.7 per 1000 youth. Most of the
injuries occur to youth who are part of the farm household (a rate of 15.7
injuries per 100 youth).
Injuries
to males account for 86% of all agricultural-related youth injuries with a rate
of 2.4 per 100 FTE. The rate for females
is 1.5 per 100 FTE.
The
majority of male fatalities occur in crop production while the majority of
female fatalities occur in livestock production. Nearly 40% of males who are fatally injured
are between 15-19 years of age.
Approximately 40% of the female fatalities are 0-4 years of age.
Sixty-three
percent of injuries occurring to children on farms are not work-related.
Almost
half of the nonfatal injuries result in contusions/abrasions and
lacerations. Nearly two-thirds of the
fatalities involve head injuries.
Farm
machinery (including tractors) is the leading source of fatality, accounting
for 36% of deaths to those younger than 20.
Drownings are the second leading cause, 27%.
Falls
are the leading source of non-fatal injury to those less than 20 years of age,
22%. Animals are second (20%), followed
by off road transportation (15%) and then being struck by objects (11%).
Information
courtesy of the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health
and Safety’s Childhood Agricultural Injuries fact sheet (2004).
Call for Proposals: Farm Safety Mini-Grant Program
Introduction:
Clemson
University County Extension Staff are eligible to participate in the Farm
Safety Mini-Grant Program. Written
proposals are invited that outline plans to develop farm safety programs. These programs can be on the county or
multi-county level.
Purpose:
Proposals will be accepted which address new farm safety
programming efforts and those which support current on-going programs. No specific group is targeted by this call
for proposals. It is the goal of the
project to solicit proposals with potential for a high degree of success.
It is expected that
upon successful completion of the mini-grant projects those grantees will
provide a brief summary report. Sharing
of project results with other state professionals is also expected as a way to
multiply successful efforts and build improved farm safety programming efforts
in the future.
Proposal Guidelines:
· Proposals
must identify the project to be undertaken, key individuals responsible and
contain a time frame for project completion.
· Summary
budgets must be prepared to describe expense items covered by mini-grant funds.
· Proposals
will be accepted until
Questions or
inquiries may be directed to Charles Privette, privett@clemson.edu
or 864.656.6247.
Submission:
Mail mini-grants and cover letter to:
224 McAdams Hall
Grain Safety
Are
plans underway for this year’s harvest? Safety is a factor that you must consider in
your harvest plans. The following
sections briefly describe steps and recommendations that one can follow when it
pertains to harvesting equipment safety.
Equipment
· Always read and follow the owner’s manual.
· Make sure equipment is in safe operating condition for harvest.
· Use handrails for safe mounting/dismounting.
· Make sure the header latch or the header stand is locked into
place before crawling under the header.
· Before attempting to service or adjust the machine, shut it off,
take the key, and set the parking brake.
· After servicing or adjusting the machine, replace all guards.
· Speech communication is virtually impossible when the combine is
operating. Learn and use accepted hand
signals.
· Before attempting to move the combine, make sure all workers and
children are off and away from the machine.
· Know your combine/picker’s size. Visibility is a problem on these
pieces of equipment. By having an idea
of the combine’s size, you can avoid overhead power lines, tree limbs, fences,
posts, and doorways to buildings.
· Watch where you are going.
Avoid ditches, steep slopes and other obstacles. Be careful when making turns.
· Always carry a first aid kit and fire extinguisher. Equipment fires can be a potential hazard,
especially during harvest.
Loading
· When positioning an elevator or auger, be aware of its height and
location of any electrical lines.
· Falls are also a concern due to the heights of bins and
silos. Serious injury can result from a
fall, even at short heights.
Unloading
· Flowing grain, which occurs while unloading, cannot support a
person’s weight and can lead to someone being completely buried in 20
seconds.
· Another scenario is cleaning caked grain from the sides of a
bin. If grain breaks free all at once,
an avalanche condition occurs and can result in complete burial. Never clean a bin from the bottom.
· A third form of entrapment occurs when grain crusts over. After grain is removed from below a crusted
surface, a void is developed. If someone
walks onto this crusted surface, it can collapse and result in immediate
burial.
Storage
· Ventilate the grain bin before entering. Carbon dioxide cannot be
detected by the human senses. This gas
is given off by fermenting grain. Carbon dioxide replaces oxygen in a grain bin
and can be deadly.
· Wear a proper breathing apparatus when entering oxygen limited
environments.
If
entry is necessary, several steps must be followed to ensure your safety:
· Make sure unloading equipment is shut off.
· Have helpers nearby, use a safety harness and line, and probe
surface before entry.
· Install permanent ladders inside bins.
· Inform workers of the dangers of grain: place warning signs on
the structures, and keep entrances locked.
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, Clemson, SC 29634-0312, 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.