Clemson Agricultural Safety

Animal Safety Quiz – February 2025

Questions

  1. Why is it dangerous to sneak up on an animal from behind?
  2. How should you approach an animal?
  3. In 2022, what percentage of the market value of agricultural products sold was livestock products?
  4. True or False: Pregnant women need to be extremely careful when working around livestock because of various infections, viruses, and diseases that can harm the unborn child. 
  5. True or False: Open-toed shoes are best for working livestock.

Answers

  1. You may spook them and they could act out of fear and hurt you or those working around the animal.
  2. From the front, calmly
  3. 64%
  4. True
  5. False

Animal Safety – February 2025

Livestock production comprises a large portion of the agricultural industry in South Carolina, whether that be cattle, poultry, swine, or any other livestock. In 2022, it was reported that 64% of the market value of agricultural products sold in South Carolina came from livestock. When working with livestock, it is important to wear the proper PPE for the task and always remember to approach them calmly from the front. 

Common Hazards When Working with Livestock

  • Being stepped on, trampled, bit, or kicked
  • Being pinned to a solid surface, such as a fence, gate, chute, or wall
  • Bacterial infections, parasitic diseases, viral diseases, fungal diseases, and Zoonotic diseases can be passed from livestock to humans.
    • Exercise extreme caution if pregnant. Many viruses and infections are much more harmful to pregnant women.
  • Livestock mothers may become protective of their young when approaching them.

Recommended PPE for Working Livestock

  • Closed-toed shoes – rubber are prefered
  • Long pants
  • Long-sleved shirt
  • Gloves (if necessary)
  • Safety glasses

How to Safety Approach Livestock

  • Never surprise livestock. Ensure that they always know that you are there, you never want to spook them.
  • Always be awear of the animal’s blind spot. Each type of livestock has a different blind spot. You should never approach them from this area.
  • Never sneak up behind the animal. Sneaking up behind the animal could spook them and they could hurt you out of fear.
  • Only ever approach an animal from the front, in a calm manner. This will keep them from spooking.
  • Always have an escape plan. In the event the animal begins to act out of fear, you need a clear path to be able to exit the situation.

Ag Injury News Report – February 2025

11/25/2024: Hay baler crushes 75-year-old man in Newberry

11/15/2024: Rigby man killed in tractor accident

11/4/2024: Truck collides with tractor on highway, man injured

10/13/2024: Woman Airlifted After ATV Accident in Silver Lake

10/10/2024: Off-road vehicle flips and kills 10-year-old girl in Alturas

10/10/2024: Kent County Sheriff’s Office investigating after suspected farm accident leaves man dead

10/9/2024: 57-year-old dies in tractor accident near Currytown Road

Ag Injury News Report – January 2025

10/5/2024: KINGSLEY MAN FATALLY INJURED IN HARVEST ACCIDENT

10/5/2024: A Parke County child has been found dead following farming accident

10/3/2024: Perryville man killed after tractor rolls over him

10/2/2024: Teen dies in crop accident at family farm

10/1/2024: Boy, 13, killed in UTV off-road crash in rural Missouri

9/29/2024: Injuries fatal to rural Owensville girl

9/23/2024: Man dead after being struck by forklift at Monroe County chicken house, sheriff’s office says

Hazard Identification Quiz – January 2025

Questions

  1. What is occurring during the elimination of a hazard? 
  2. What is the least effective way to mitigate hazards? 
  3. What is the most common way to mitigate hazards? 
  4. True or False: A near miss is when an unplanned event occurs that has the potential to be harmful and result in injury, but it does not. 
  5. True or False: All hazards are very obvious and easy to spot.  

Answers

  1. The hazard is completely removed.
  2. Personal Protective Equipment
  3. Engineering Controls
  4. True
  5. False

Hazard Identification – January 2025

Hazards are anything that poses a danger, threat, or risk to the health and safety of people in a workplace. Farms are often full of hazards ranging from machinery hazards to livestock hazards, and these are often the root cause of on-farm incidents. It is always important to be on the lookout for hazards when you are working!

What are root cause? Root causes are the primary issue or hazard that led to an incident occurring. Some common root causes are improper training, disorganization in the workplace, improper storage procedures of chemicals and pesticides, and many others.

What are near misses and close calls? Near misses are unplanned events that had the potential to result in an incident, but does not actually result in human injury or harm to the environment or equipment.

How do we identify hazards? Follow the six steps outline by OSHA for identifying and addressing hazards!

  1. Collect information about the workplace. The main part of this step is determining what types of hazards could potentially be present in the workplace, and who would be exposed to those hazards.
  2. Inspect the workplace for safety hazards. During this step, inspect all operations, equipment, work areas, and facilities to locate safty hazards. Be sure to take photographs and document where each hazard is.
  3. Identify health hazards. Be on the lookout for “unseen hazards,” things such as gases and vapors, odorless hazards, or hazards that only appear after long-term exposure.
  4. Perform incident investigations. Review documented incidents and near misses that have happened at the workplace and determine if necessary steps have been done to resolve the hazard.
  5. Identify hazards that are assocaited with non-routine and emergency situations. Emergencies and non-routine or infrequent tasks can present hazards that are not always present.
  6. Characterize the nature of identified hazards, identify interim control measures, and prioritize the hazards for control. Evaluate each hazard by considering the severity of potential outcomes and the likelihood of an event or exposure to occur. Also consider how many workers may be exposed if an incident occurs.

Hierarchy of Controls: various means to address hazards in the workplace. Elimination is the most effective means; however, the most common means to mitigate hazards is engineering controls.

Cold Weather Safety Quiz – December 2024

Questions

  1. What is the recommended number of layers for working in the cold?
  2. Roughly how much of your body heat is lost through your head and neck?
  3. How long does it take for frostbite to set in during extreme cold?
  4. True or False: When working in the cold, you should drink plenty of water and have a snack to build up your energy.
  5. True or False: In the cold, you should start working as soon as the sun comes up to get everything done as soon as possible. 

Answers

  1. 3 layers
  2. 50%
  3. 10 – 30 minutes
  4. True
  5. False

Cold Weather Safety – December 2024

While we don’t see much winter weather in South Carolina, we are no strangers to bitter cold days. While most other occupations are inside on those cold days, farmers find themselves braving the cold to tend to crops and livestock. To help combat the cold, make sure to cover as much exposed skin as possible. Gloves and hats can help retain much needed body heat.

  1. Wear the proper clothing
    • Dressing in layers can help you beat the cold. As you work through the day, you can shed layers as need be. It is recommended to wear at least 3 layers when working in the cold. Layer 1, a base layer. This is typically thermals or long-johns. Layer 2, standard clothing. This is your normal clothing. Finally, layer 3, an outer layer. This is typically your rain and/or wind protectant.
    • Make sure you cover your hands! While gloves can get in the way of doing work sometimes, your hands are one of your most susceptible body parts to frostbite. Depending on wind chill, frostbite can occur in as little as 10 to 30 minutes! When you are looking for the right gloves to wear, look for gloves that have good insulation, but are still very flexible.
    • Remember to wear a hat and cover your ears. Nearly half of all body heat is lost through your head and neck.
    • Wear insulated boots if possible. During the cold it is often best to refrain from wearing steel-toe shoes, if possible.
  2. Take breaks throughout the day
    • Getting the job done is always on everyone’s mind, however, in extreme cold it is important to take ample breaks to warm up. While you are taking a break, it isn’t a bad idea to have a snack and drink some water. Your body is constantly burning energy to try and stay warm, so you need to fuel yourself.
  3. Be mindful of weather changes
    • If it’s possible work outside when it will be the warmest. While most farmers are out and about as soon as the sun comes up, this is typically one of the coldest times of day. Working in the afternoon and help you stay warmer longer.

Ag Injury News Report – December 2024

Ag Injury News Report

9/8/2024: Crews rescue Stanton County farmer trapped in corn bin

9/7/2024: Man Injured in Scotland County Tractor Rollover Accident

9/7/2024: Two workers die after being trapped inside a South Dakota farm silo

8/26/2024: ATV operator killed in Salisbury crash

8/24/2024: One dead in Corinth farm truck crash

8/21/2024: Man Survives Grain Bin Entrapment Near Sublette

8/20/2024: Farm accident in Parke County leads to Lifeline

Hunter Safety Quiz – November 2024

Questions

  1. Why should you wear blaze orange when you go hunting?
  2. What does MAT stand for?
  3. How long does it take for frostbite to set in during extreme cold?
  4. True or False: You should treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
  5. True or False: You should have a plan for any harvested game because bacterial growth can start as quickly as 20 minutes after you harvest the game.  

Answers

  1. So other hunters can identify you and to help others find you in the event of an accident.
  2. Muzzle, Action, Trigger
  3. 30 minutes
  4. True
  5. True