With temperatures leaning towards the feeling of spring this week, farmers are gearing up to get equipment and sites ready for spring planting. Manning Regional Healthcare Center (MRHC) is providing some tips for the health and safety of all during this busy season. They report that more than half of all workplace fatalities around the world occur in agriculture, making farming one of the most dangerous occupations. But the dangers that exist extend beyond the farm to the drivers and others who come into contact with farm machinery. “We like to check our farm equipment out yearly—and it is equally important to make sure that our bodies are at the top of our game when performing these important jobs,” says MRHC Education Coordinator, Julie Hodne. “Whether it is crops or animals that we farm, it’s important to take care of our health so that we can perform at our best. This is why it is important to not delay your yearly physical and opportunity to stay in touch with your primary care physician,” Hodne adds. Preparation, she says, can be the best prevention. Safety tips on roadways, around chemicals, with tractors, ATVs and other farm equipment as well as directions on what to include in a first aid kit and how to respond to an emergency can be found below.
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Rural Roadways Safety
- Be aware of other vehicles and take special precautions.
- Watch for large, slow-moving vehicles when they turn corners, come over hills and meet tractors on the road.
- Conduct a pre-ride inspection on tractor & any implements being towed.
- Make sure you have plenty of fuel.
- Ensure all lights and signals work properly.
- Adjust mirrors.
- Have a slow-moving vehicle sign (SMV) emblem on display.
- Be aware of a build-up of traffic behind you.
Tractor Safety
- Never allow children to sit on drawbar, fender, lap or loader bucket or play on or in a tractor
- Riders should not distract the driver or bump the controls.
- Learn about the Power Take-Off (PTO) safety.
- Don’t wear jewelry or loose clothing and always tie back long hair.
- Never stand behind a tractor.
- Learn how to shut off a tractor.
- Never approach a tractor operator without them knowing you are in the area.
- Discuss how to get the attention of a tractor operator with your family.
Safety Around Chemicals
- Check labels to see what PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is required.
- Lock all chemicals away from young children.
- Heed warnings listed on the chemical labels.
- Store all chemicals in the original containers.
- Use safe laundry practices. Wash PPE separately with hot water and rinse washing machine afterwards.
- If chemicals get into the eyes, rinse eyes for 30 minutes with cool water.
- Carry water with you or know where a source of water is in case of a chemical spill.
ATV Safety
- Wear an ATV specific helmet, long sleeved shirt, pants, gloves and boots.
- One person riding at a time.
- Drive only on off-road surfaces.
- Check the Iowa Code on [All-terrain vehicles –highway use] about when they can be operated on the highway.
First Aid Kit Essentials
- Gloves
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Blanket
- Various sizes of gauze pads, wound cleaning agents, adhesive and non-adhesive bandages and elastic wraps
- Instant cold pack
- Bottled water
- Moistened towelettes
- Resuscitation equipment such as a pocket mask or barrier device if CPR is needed.
- Important phone numbers: 911 for police, fire or ems and the poison control center.
- CPR & First Aid quick reference guide
Responding to an Emergency
In an emergency situation, remember the three C’s of first aid:
Check: Never rush into an emergency situation, always check for dangers first.
Call: Calling for emergency help early is one of the most important things you can do.
Care: After the first two steps, you can now start to care for the injured person until EMS arrives.