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Farm Safety Check: Manure Management

Manure is a valuable resource for crop production. When working with manure, remember to work safely and avoid cutting corners. As manure decomposes, invisible and potentially hazardous gasses (ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, methane, and carbon dioxide) are released. In addition, safety hazards can exist along the path of manure management, especially during busy seasons involving long hours. Keep this safety checklist in mind as you work with manure, including storage, agitation, pumping, transportation, and application. …

Farm Safety Check: Healthy Habits: Eat Well to Stay Well

  OCTOBER 2022 Farmers are busy. Long days, unpredictable weather and machinery breakdowns can all add to the stress of the job. Staying healthy by making smart food choices is one way to make certain you are up to the task of whatever you might face. During busy and stressful seasons, eating well is important to prevent illness and provide enough …

Farm Safety Check: Eye Protection on the Farm

JUNE 2022 Eye injuries can translate into pain, related eye diseases, and loss of time, money, and possibly your eyesight.  Wear proper eye protection where eye protection hazards are apparent. Become acquainted with proper first aid treatment for eye injuries and seek medical attention if there is an eye injury. You and/or your employee(s) can use …

Farm Safety Check: Towing

Winter and spring can be tough seasons for towing, with conditions including snow, ice and mud. Towing can be dangerous in a number of ways, some of which include using the wrong rope or chain, insufficient towing vehicle, and possible bystanders who can distract and may be injured in the process. …

Farm Safety Check: Preventing Field Fires

Harvest is a busy time for many farms. As cooler temperatures replace summer heat, crops begin to dry down rapidly, increasing risk for dangerous fires on the farm. Hot equipment or engine sparks interacting with dry plant material and grain dust can become a highly combustible combination, making field fires a major concern for farmers. …

Farm Safety Check: Farm First Aid

First aid kits should be a staple on farms, and readily available. Farming is a dangerous occupation. Having a well stocked first aid kit can help you quickly respond to farm injuries. Being prepared can often mean the difference between an injury and a life threatening situation. …

Farm Safety Check: Working Alone

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. …

Farm Safety Check: Antimicrobial Resistance

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. …

Farm Safety Check: Working in the Cold

Cold temperatures pose serious threats to a person’s health, leading to frostbite, hypothermia, or trench foot, which occurs when the feet have been exposed to water for too long. …

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. …