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Farm Safety Check: Working Alone

MARCH 2021 There are tasks that should never be done alone on the farm, such as working in a confined space. In fact, it’s usually best to work in pairs or groups. However, if you need to do a task alone, first stop, think, and act. Stop and ask yourself what could go wrong. How bad could it be? Has anything changed? Then think. Ask yourself if you …

Farm Safety Check: Antimicrobial Resistance

FEBRUARY 2021 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when microorganisms – bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites become resistant to antimicrobial substances, like antibiotics, antifungals and others. It is one of the most urgent threats to public health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year in the United States, …

Farm Safety Check: Working in the Cold

JANUARY 2021 SAFETY CHECKLIST Disclaimer: Don’t forget to wear a mask and follow all social distancing practices in the applicable situations below. Can you complete indoor tasks and leave outdoor tasks for a warmer day? Do you prioritize safety? Add more breaks, keep areas warm, provide warm food and drink, periodically check on employees, and …

Farm Safety Check: Preventing Building Fires

Fires pose serious threats to the wellbeing of livestock and humans. Farms have many flammable materials, such as pesticides, cobwebs, dust, bedding, hay, straw, paint, fertilizer, and paper. In the winter, additional threats to safety include the physical distance from farms to the closest fire station, poor road conditions, windy conditions that can intensify the fire, heating equipment, rodent bedding, and damaged wires and cords. Given these farm hazards, prevention is key. Take a moment today to save a life tomorrow. …

Farm Safety Check: Safety for Working Youth

Children, teens, and adults working on farms face hazards not encountered in other jobs. Youth doing work that doesn’t match their developmental level and abilities increases the risk of injury. Use these guidelines to help determine if a youth is ready to perform a job and learn about hazards and keeping working youth safe.  …

Farm Safety Check: COVID-19 Infection Prevention

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we work on the farm. You and/or your employee(s) can use this form to complete safety checks in light of the pandemic. Use the form below to list additional safety checks you think are important when inspecting your farm. …

Farm Safety Check: STOP-THINK-ACT

This is a simple, yet powerful safety tool that encourages everyone on the farm to consider the task or chore at hand, to ask themselves how their own actions could contribute to a safe and productive outcome and stop if it can’t be done safely. …

Farm Safety Check: Grain Handling Safety

Grain handling is a high-hazard activity, where workers face serious injury and death. Youth should not be in grain bins or silos or in/around flat storage structures unless they are empty, proper lock-out/tag-out and other safety procedures are followed, and the youth is at least 16 years old. …

Farm Safety Check: Whole Body Vibration

Whole body vibration is happening when doing many farm chores – like operating machinery or riding an ATV. Whole body vibration (WBV) occurs when the shaking motion of a vehicle is transmitted through the body of the operator. WBV is associated with numerous health effects, including muscle cramping, low back problems, increased heart rate and …