FEBRUARY 2018
Media Guidelines fact sheet covers text, graphic elements
Scott Heiberger
Health Communications Manager, National Farm Medicine Center
Carol Peterson
Outreach Coordinator, Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH)
The media play an important role in reinforcing safety in agriculture and in rural life across the United States. What we write, say and show as images need to characterize safe agricultural practices. While not intentional, unsafe practices can find a way into the mainstream and social media as well as advertising.
By keeping a safe eye on what we produce and publish, we all take a step forward to safety and health in the agriculture community.
Here are a few tips you can use TODAY to keep a Safe Eye on your communications.
- peruse your website and replace images that do not demonstrate safe work practices
- be mindful about the words and images you choose for stories and social media
- when reporting on agricultural injuries, try to include relevant prevention messages and/or resources
- share the Media Guidelines for Agricultural Safety with others in your organization
Contact us for additional information on agricultural safety and health at umash@umn.edu or visit our website at umash.umn.edu
Media Guidelines for Agricultural Safety
The National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety, through its Childhood Agricultural Safety Network (CASN), developed Media Guidelines for Agricultural Safety with do’s and don’ts for media and communications staff to help promote safe agricultural practice. Following these guidelines can help each of us be confident that we are doing our part for farm safety.
Examples:
- Do show tractors with rollover protective structures.
- Do use the word “incident” rather than “accident.”
- Do not show children as extra riders on tractors.
- Do not show children near large animals unless appropriate barriers are evident.
The Media Guidelines for Agricultural Safety were developed with input from media professionals as well as communicators from CASN member organizations. The guidelines fact sheet was partially supported through a grant from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Ag Safety Awareness
Each year, the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH) and our U.S. Agricultural Safety and Health Center colleagues across the country partner with other organizations to raise awareness about occupational risks associated with farming and offer safety resources and solutions to minimize or eliminate these risks. Please join us in raising awareness about ag safety!
March 4-20, 2018