News > Rural Lifestyle > Celebrating National Farm Safety and Health Week

Celebrating National Farm Safety and Health Week

Sep 19, 2022

When posed the question of which industry is the most dangerous, most Americans would not put farming near the top of the list. However, agriculture is an incredibly complex industry that presents many challenges for workers, including machinery accidents, hot and strenuous working conditions, animal unpredictability, chemical and pesticide safety concerns, and more. For these reasons, the agriculture sector is considered the most dangerous in the country, according to last year’s report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
 
This week, Sept. 18-24, is National Farm Safety and Health Week, which raises awareness of the risks that farmers take to put food on our table. The fall harvest season, especially, poses a threat to farmers’ mental and physical health, so it is a perfect time to focus on farm safety.
 
Listed below are tips to help you and your family stay safe this harvest season and to protect other farmers in your community:
 
  • Wear bright colors when out in the field
  • Keep fire extinguishers in all equipment
  • Mark all vehicles that will be driven on the road with “slow traffic” signs and reflective tape
  • Ensure all lights and flashers work properly on all equipment
  • Be aware of power lines, low bridges, narrow roads, and sharp turns
  • Try to only travel on roads during daylight hours
  • Respect heavy machinery on the roads and wait for them to pull over before passing
  • Disengage power takeoff when not in use
  • Carry a first aid kit in the cab of your equipment
  • Install rollover protection on tractors
  • Do not neglect sleep and proper nutrition
  • Keep children from getting too close to farm equipment
  • Do not wear loose clothing when operating machinery
  • Use gloves and protective gear when handling chemicals or pesticides
  • Do not multitask while operating equipment
  • Wear sunscreen every day
 
For more information on National Farm Safety and Health Week, visit The National Education Center for Agricultural Safety website at https://www.necasag.org/nationalfarmsafetyandhealthweek/.
 
For more content like this, check out the latest issue of The Cooperator.

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