Year: 2021

Ag Injury News Report

11/25/2021: 16-Year-Old Apple Valley girl dies in ATV crash

11/25/2021: Boy, 2, dies after falling from tractor in southern Manitoba

11/21/2021: Hamilton woman needs help following horrific farm accident

11/16/2021: Farmer dies after sinking in grain bin

11/14/2021: Darlington man badly burned in field fire

11/13/2021: Tennessee man electrocuted on Armuchee farm

11/12/2021: Howard County man dies after tractor malfunctions

The SC Agriwellness Program

The SC Agriwellness Program was developed in 2019 just before the COVID Pandemic with initial funding and administration coming from the South Carolina Farm Bureau. The idea came from a program that I had put together and the right people happened to be in the room, an agribusiness that told us about a resource that they provide to their employees, this was heard by a farmer, JEB Wilson of Cotton hills Farm, a couple of Farm Bureau staff, from that point the idea of being able to provide more than just a Crisis Hotline was born. We now have a phone number (1-800-968-8143) that anyone part of the South Carolina agricultural community can call. They simply mention that they are calling as part of the SC AgriWellness program, not only will they be able to receive crises counseling if needed but can be set up to meet with a Mental Health Professional for 3 free counseling sessions. The individual can choose the method of the session which can be through texting, over the phone, virtual, or in person.

Betsy Dorton, Grants Administrator for the South Carolina Department of Agriculture, and I (Adam Kantrovich) just received a $500,000 grant to:

Farm Bureau will be assisting in marketing of the program and also providing information and resources to their members around the state. A great deal of assistance that began with Jessica Cabrera which now works for American Farm Bureau, Stephanie Sox, Amanda Croft, Faith Truesdale, and Chalmers Mikell.

Help provide counseling sessions administered by Maria Lund with First Sun, EAP.

Develop some Extension Publication Materials about Farm Stress and Mental Health.

Provide programs throughout the state to raise awareness and education to those that work with farmers and with farmers themselves.

To provide a limited number of for continuing credit courses to mental health professionals within the state through the Agrisafe Farm Response program that will train them about agriculture, the agricultural industry and the challenges that are faced by farmers and their families.

To provide a farm financial analysis of the farm to assist in providing the farmer with where the farm may be financially and to investigate options the farmer may be considering.

https://www.clemson.edu/extension/agribusiness/farmstress/resources.html
https://www.scfb.org/farmstress

Adam J. Kantrovich

Hometown: Des Plaines, IL

Position: Extension Specialist – Agribusiness, Director of Clemson Extension Tax School, Asst. Director of the Clemson Cooperative Extension Agribusiness Team

I work with farmers, landowners, the timber industry, and others within the agricultural industry specializing in farm financial management, ag labor policy issues, farm succession, transition, and estate planning; Affordable Care Act compliance, and Farm Stress and Mental Health.

What has been your level of involvement in the Clemson University Ag Safety program?
It has been limited up to this point. But have begun working with Farm Stress and Mental Health area when I was still with Michigan State University Extension, which for me is a part of the larger Ag Safety area and should be thought of as such.

How important is it for farmers and other people in agriculture be safe?
This is an extremely important a part of farm life and living in a rural community. But we need to expand on the idea that Ag or Farm Safety is only a prevention of physical, physiological injury or death, but needs to include the mental health of our farmers, farm families, landowners, and others.

How often do you run across the topic of agricultural safety in your position?
This is a regular issue, every time I step onto a farm property, because of what I typically do, I immediately begin to assess my surroundings about the farmstead, reviewing the facilities, the livestock, etc. There are many issues on a farm that can easily cause injury. Along with the normal day-to-day activities of farming, comes a normal level of stress, but unfortunately for the past 5 or 6 years there has been a number of other variables that has affected many farmers that has increased the stress level which has begun to affect many mentally.

What do you think the biggest concern is regarding agricultural safety?
Beyond the normal working around machinery and equipment, grain facilities, and livestock, one of the largest issues is the mental health and wellbeing of farmers, farm families and landowners. Under prolong high stress times, stress can begin to have a negative effect on a person’s body physically and physiologically. Making an individual more susceptible to becoming ill through a lowered immune response system, cardiac issues, and more susceptible to making errors when working around machinery and or livestock causing injury or death due to their minds being taken up by thinking about their financial situation or other issues that might be present.

How can/are SC Agriwellness and CU Ag Safety working together to improve in this area?
First and foremost, by raising awareness about the situation. Second, by educating everyone that we can that being under stress can cause many other issues in one’s life on the farm and that it is okay to seek assistance from a professional Mental Health Professional. By simply talking to someone about what is going on, what a farmer may be going through and thinking about is by itself helpful for many. Third, providing information about the resources available through the SC Agriwellness program for those in South Carolina Agriculture.

Why is safety necessary? You share any personal experiences if you are willing?
Farming is an extremely satisfying profession and lifestyle, but it does come with its many risks, some of which we can control, and many others that we cannot. But when things begin to turn negative due to crops destroyed, low prices or the higher cost of inputs and money begins to get tight, we begin to become stressed and begin to think about possible solutions which unfortunately may lead to marriage problems, substance abuse, and or thoughts of taking one’s life. I have seen the impacts to a farm family due to suicide within the family. In many cases this creates additional issues for the farm and farm family and does not necessarily resolve the underlying issues that created the stress in the first place.

What do you think is the best way to teach agricultural safety?
Teach by doing and lead by example.

Describe the impacts that a safety intervention can have on children.
Prevention of losing a limb, a life, the possibility of being able to pass the farm to the next generation.

What is the biggest way to leave an impression the agricultural community?
Having a personal connection and building trust one person at a time.

What can be done to spread awareness about safety issues?
Never stop teaching and providing little educational “nuggets” whenever someone can.

Do you have any advice for the agricultural sector in this time of uncertainty?
There is nothing wrong asking for help. Contact someone for assistance, whether that be a family member, a neighbor, an Extension agent or staff member or anyone else that can provide assistance. Whether they are the one that can provide the assistance needed or help you in reaching the resource that you need.

Ag Injury News Report

10/11/2021: Woman critically injured after tractor collision with horse and buggy near Kincardine

10/03/2021: Boy, 9, Killed In ATV Crash; 10-Year-Old Driver Survives

10/02/2021: Motorcyclist injured in collision with hay rake

9/26/2021: Alcohol suspected in Oliver tractor rollover that sent man to hospital

9/19/2021: Man killed in Spencer area farming accident

9/18/2021: 67-year-old man dies in tractor crash just outside of Perth, Ont., OPP say

9/13/2021: Semi, tractor collision sends two to hospital in Schuyler County

Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation can affect driving in many ways. It can make the driver less attentive, slow the driver’s reaction time, and affect their ability to make decisions. When experiencing sleep deprivation, it is much easier to make costly mistakes because of a slowed reaction time. This leads to an increase in injury.

Drowsy driving is a problem across all of the United States and affects many farmers. Drowsy driving causes nearly 6,000 fatal crashes each year and a total of 83,000 crashes. It is important to remember to always get sleep and that if you are too tired to drive, turn the wheel over to someone else.

Drowsy driving is similar to drunk driving. Being awake for 18 hours is the equivalent of someone having a blood alcohol content of 0.05%. Being awake for 24 hours is the equivalent of someone having a blood alcohol content of 0.10%. This is higher than the legal limit of 0.08% BAC in all states.

Ways to prevent drowsy driving are:

Get enough sleep. The average adult requires a minimum of 7 hours of sleep a day.
Stick to a sleep schedule and develop good sleeping habits.
Avoid drinking alcohol or taking medications that make you sleepy before driving or operating equipment.

The effects of drowsy driving do not only affect those who operate motor vehicles; they also affect those operating combines and various other farm equipment. Working long hours during harvest season can result in sleep deprivation for farmers.

Information courtesy of the CDC

Charlie Westbrook

Hometown: Rock Hill, SC

Position: Owner of Cherry Place Farm

I farm with my son, Charlie III, and my daughter, Bailey. Charlie graduated from Clemson (Ag. Mech. ’17), and Bailey graduated from Anderson University ’20.  We grow Strawberries in the Spring and produce in the Summer. We run a Corn Maze/ Pumpkin Patch in the Fall and sell Christmas trees/wreaths in the Winter.

How often do you run across the topic of agricultural safety in your position?
Because we are primarily an Agritourism farm, safety is essential. I deal with some form of safety almost every day. Whether it’s spreading Fire Ant bait, spraying chemicals on crops, smoothing walking areas to decrease tripping hazards, or working on equipment, safety factors into all areas of agriculture.

What do you think the biggest concern is regarding agricultural safety?
In my opinion, people today are very removed from what it takes to farm or be around farming.

What is the biggest way to leave an impression on middle to high school age children?
One thing that can be very effective for training school-age children is to hold Farm safety day camps in the summertime. We have hosted several over the years that were connected to Clemson Extension and Progressive Farmer.

What does your position do to mitigate accidents on the job?
We do to educate the public about safety is to place signage in places that will be easily seen. Also, we train employees to communicate with visitors about being safe while there.

What is the biggest concern teaching adults about safety precautions?
Agricultural safety does not have to be scary for people; there just needs to be an understanding that when you are at a farm, be aware of your surroundings, and it will keep you safe.

Ag Injury News Report

9/13/2021: Man killed in farming accident in Toney

9/13/2021: Hazel Green man dies after rear-ending hay wagon pulled by tractor, Grant County authorities say

9/12/2021: 6-year-old rural Nebraska boy dies after ATV accident

9/12/2021: Crews recover man’s body from grain silo after 10-hour effort on Indy’s near northwest side

9/10/2021: Police: Ionia man injured after van rear-ends grain truck

9/07/2021: Fannin County man killed in tractor accident

9/07/2021: Man hospitalized after UTV crash in Buffalo County Sunday

Aaron Turner

Hometown: Silver City, NM

Position: Assistant Professor, Ag. Mech. and Business

I’m an assistant professor in the Agricultural Sciences Department at Clemson, and I teach in the Ag. Mech. and Business program. My interest in agriculture started when I was an undergraduate student at NMSU. I was working part-time in the college’s machine shop, and there was a lot of specialty crop mechanization research going on at the time. Through that, I got connected to the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), and I was hooked! From there, I went on to get an M.S. and Ph.D. in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering from the University of Kentucky. My current research program includes engineering aspects of harvesting and post-harvest processing systems (handling, drying, and storage). This includes the physical properties of bulk materials and how agricultural data can be leveraged to improve the efficiency and sustainability of production.

How important is it for farmers and other people in agriculture to be safe?
Safety should be the number one priority. It’s tempting to take shortcuts sometimes, but everyone deserves to go home safe at the end of the day.

How often do you run across the topic of agricultural safety in your position?
I don’t come across safety very frequently. However, I do cover safety related to working around stored grain facilities in one of my courses. Like many other agricultural jobs, working around these facilities involves being around equipment (tractors, augers, conveyors, etc.). However, there are additional hazards associated with working at heights and confined space entry/grain engulfment. Unfortunately, there are several fatalities at grain facilities each year.

What do you think the biggest concern is regarding agricultural safety?
My biggest concern regarding agricultural safety is the long-term impact it can have on our aging producer population. Thirty-six percent of producers in SC were over 65 in 2017, and normal things associated with aging (hearing/vision loss, slower reaction times, arthritis) make this group several times more likely to have a farm-related injury. This group also has a longer recovery time, so interventions that can help keep this group working safely are good.

Describe the impacts that a safety intervention can have on children.
I think this is one of the areas that could have the most significant impact, even if it is somewhat intangible. Setting an example for what working safely looks like and instilling good habits early would have life-long benefits. This extends beyond interventions with children to the adults who are setting the example.

How do you handle a safety concern among your employees?
In a university research setting, you rely heavily on student help, and the tasks are often unique to a given project. This makes it essential to talk through the work, so everyone is comfortable. It’s important to make sure everyone involved is familiar with the dangers associated with whatever equipment they will be using and stress the importance of asking for help if something feels off. I also provide adequate PPE and ensure no one works alone if there are any potential safety issues.

Safety and Health for Women Fact Sheet

DESCRIPTION

The objective is to provide basic information regarding overall safety and health for women in an agricultural related positions.

OVERVIEW

Women represent 36% of all American agricultural producers, based on the 2017 Census of Agriculture. This has increased by 5% from the 2012 Census of Agriculture. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) outlines women’s risks, including pregnancy-related hazards, mental health, and work-related injuries (Ag Safety and Health, 2021). It is always essential for women in agriculture to be aware of their surroundings and overall health.

SIZE AND SHAPE

• Generally, tools are made for larger framed individuals; find tools made for a more petite body frame when at all possible.
• Be sure to adjust machinery where all pedals and levers can be easily reached.
• Resource properly fitting PPE to accommodate smaller sizes.

STRENGTH

• Women generally have an upper body strength 40-75% less than their male counterparts.
• Wearing sturdy footwear can help avoid falls and help with stability while carrying heavy loads.
• Having an appropriate calcium intake can help maintain a strong bone density.

REPRODUCTIVE FACTORS

• Be cautious when working around pesticides, needles, or livestock hormones, as these can all impact fertility.
• Zoonotic diseases can also impact fertility. Zoonotic diseases are caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi.

STRESS FACTORS

• Establish a support system including family and friends or even online blogs and networks.
• Do not be afraid to talk to a healthcare professional if there are any symptoms of depression or anxiety.

Description
The objective is to provide basic information on grain safety and safety related to entrapment and engulfment in grain.

GRAIN ENTRAPMENT AND ENGULFMENT
Entrapment: When a person has sunk low enough into the grain, they cannot escape the grain without assistance from another person.
Engulfment: When a person has sunk low enough, their head is below the grain.

CAUSES OF ENTRAPMENT AND ENGULFMENT
Flowing Grain: Moving grain acts like quicksand and moves in a conical motion when being removed from bins. This can result in a person becoming trapped quickly.

Grain Bridging: When grain becomes wet or moist, it begins to mold and form a crust on the surface. When grain is removed, a cavity will form beneath the crusted grain. Sometimes, workers may enter a bin with a grain bridge, and the grain will collapse, resulting in the worker being engulfed in grain.

Grain Wall Collapse: Grain walls form when wet grain molds and sticks together on the grain bin walls. If a worker enters the bin to knock down a grain wall, the grain may fall on the worker, resulting in engulfment.

AVOIDING ENTRAPMENT OR ENGULFMENT
Target Zero Entry: Avoid having to enter a grain bin at all costs.
Lockout/Tagout: Programs ensure all equipment associated with adding or removing grain from a bin is shut off and cannot be turned on while a person is in a bin.

Never Go in Alone: Always have at least three people present when entering a bin, the bin entrant, a bin attendant, and an outside communicator. This allows for eyes to be on the person entering the bin and communicating if an emergency does occur.
Harness and Anchor Points: Before entering a bin, ensure that all appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is present, including a harness with a lanyard. In an emergency, a harness may be the only factor preventing a person from sinking below the grain surface.