Month: May 2021

Jacob Koch, as part of his master’s research, has become Associate Director in the Agricultural Safety Program through Clemson University’s Agricultural Sciences Department. The program builds demonstrations to travel around the state visiting Clemson Research and Education Centers to conduct Ag Safety Days and teach middle to high school age kids about different aspects of farm safety.

Prior to, and throughout his college career, he has been involved with many different agricultural occupations. He currently serves as owner-operator of a firewood business, lawn chemical application business, and a small row-crop and wildlife food-plot business. Prior to engaging in these activities, Jacob operated a small lawn care business for many years. In 2016 and 2017, Jacob worked for Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) as an intern at a Great Lakes shipping terminal elevator in Toledo, OH, and a barge loading elevator in St. Louis, MO. All of these experiences have exposed him to a wide variety of agricultural tasks which have given him a very strong ability to recognize and deal with the hazards associated with those tasks. With ADM, Jacob worked closely with the Safety Division to identify hazards in the workplace, implement engineering controls, and deliver safety training to employees on a regular basis to mitigate the exposure to and frequency of hazards and incidents in the workplace.

How did you get involved with this program?
JK: I started working on this project as part of my project for my Master’s degree. I am also helping to build an Ag Safety Handbook showing guidelines and tips about different equipment and systems found on and around the farm.

What is your favorite part of the Ag Safety program?
JK: My favorite part would probably be seeing the kids take an interest and their expressions when they learn something new at these Safety Days. They’re an entertaining sort and their questions the day a whole lot of fun while still being educational. I also like seeing all the different local groups come out and support these days with as much enthusiasm as we put into them too.

Why do you think it is important to teach children about farm safety?
JK: They’re bright and realize a lot of the dangers of these situations on their own, but sometimes don’t always understand all the implications associated. It is important to show that maybe the way they currently do things isn’t the safest and that there are alternatives to get the same jobs done in a safer manner.

What do you see happening to this program in the future?
JK: Hopefully we can get this program to expand even further statewide. We hope to expand it across multiple age brackets and even to the adult world where maybe we can get something going with a farm safety credit towards insurance companies. Also, with building more demonstrations it can become an even more well-rounded program and entity.

Submitted by Jacob Koch

AG INJURY NEWS

12/11/2019: Saginaw County farmer run over and killed by tractor

12/14/2019: Hardwick man dies in tractor accident

12/15/2019: Alto man fractures both hips in tractor accident

01/02/2020: Florida driver dies in accident with farm tractor

Source: https://www.aginjurynews.org/

Justin Ables owns and manages a 5th generation family farm with his dad. Justin lives on the farm with his wife and 3-year-old son. The family farm consists of 10 poultry houses, cattle, and row crop operations. They grow wheat, soybeans, and corn along with hay. Justin graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Agricultural Mechanization and Business. In 2017, Justin was involved in a rollover tractor accident that changed his outlook on farm safety.

How did you hear about Clemson’s Agricultural Safety program?
JA: I was asked to serve on a near-death farm experience panel at a Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Conference that Hunter Massey [Director of Clemson Agricultural Safety] moderated. He spoke on the new Clemson program and gave me some handouts on the program.

Why is safety advocacy important?
JA: The agricultural industry as a whole is a very dangerous occupation to be in. Many times we as farmers take for granted the risks associated with everyday tasks that we do. Specifically for me, having children has changed my outlook. If promoting safety stops one accident from occurring then it has worked.

Do you think early intervention efforts in youth will help promote a safer future in the field of agriculture?
JA: I do believe the early intervention will help just to make youth aware of the dangers they may experience in agriculture. For me, I grew up on the farm and was taught from an early age the right way to do certain tasks on the farm. Now that I am a father, I try to teach my son the same exact principles that I learned throughout my career.

What barriers do you think currently exist that prevent farmers and others from being as safe as possible?
JA: I wouldn’t call it barriers, but in my opinion, most farmers are always pushed for time. We are under pressure to get certain tasks completed due to external factors. This leads to long hours on machinery, which leads to fatigue. Another issue is simple tasks that we do every day and just become careless.

Do you have any personal connections surrounding the issues of agricultural safety?
JA: I was involved in a rollover tractor accident in 2017. An SUV hit me almost head-on, resulting in me rolling down the road in the tractor. Thankfully I walked away without any injuries.

What do you think can be done to spread awareness about safety issues?
JA: Just talking about it and promoting through workshops and other events. Get those that have been involved in an agricultural accident to tell their stories.

Submitted by Justin Ables

AG INJURY NEWS

01/19/2020: Nine year old dies in skid steer accident

01/21/2020: Injuries following incident of skid loader driven by ten year old

01/28/2020: Man dies after becoming entrapped in corn silo

02/01/2020: Seventy-four year old male fatally injured in tractor turn-over

02/02/2020: Second grader severely injured after being run over by tractor

02/04/2020: Farmer dies after being run over by tractor

02/04/2020: One fatality and several injured when SUV rear-ends manure spreader

Source: https://www.aginjurynews.org/

Mark McGrady currently owns Colorscapes Supply Company selling quality soils and fertilizers to landscapers, growers, and farmers across the state of South Carolina. After managing a local garden center and nursery for almost twenty years, he has seen the ins and outs of many green industry operations.

How did you hear about Clemson’s Agricultural Safety program and why do you think it is important?
MM: I have a daughter in the Ag program at Clemson and she told me about it. I feel that it is important to intervene with young people as they enter the agricultural workforce. It is easier to start good habits while someone is young rather than trying to reteach someone when they are older. The safe and proper way to do things should be second nature instead of something they have to stop and think about.

Why is safety advocacy important?
MM: It is important to do as much as you can to protect yourself because there are lots of other people in this world that won’t make the effort to protect themselves let alone anyone else. I interact with a lot of landscapers and help my wife run her niche landscaping operation. The biggest threat I see in the landscaping industry that I believe is vastly overlooked, is many people don’t take the time to strap their equipment down on their trailers. It’s not as if the equipment is going to blow away because it isn’t heavy enough to ride on the trailer deck, it’s the fact that these items become projectiles if they were to become involved in an accident. Seat belts go on people and tie-down straps go on the equipment.

What prevents farmers and others from being as safe as possible?
MM: I honestly think it is time and deadlines. We are always chasing that next dollar and trying to get the next task done. They keep saying time is money but people really ought to slow down and look at some of the consequences of their actions. Being a little behind on a task list is much cheaper than being fined by an insurance company or the cost of a life.

Why should safety be of utmost importance?
MM: Safety precautions and warnings are often glanced over because people become familiar and comfortable with actions that seem harmless. I’ve moved plenty of pallets of fertilizer in my life and the one time I chose not to wear [safety] glasses I got a chemical burn to the eye. A phosphate burn to the cornea isn’t how you would want to lose your eyesight when it was easily preventable. Luckily my sight returned after a few months but there are plenty of incidents with outcomes not near as lucky as mine.

What do you think can be done to spread awareness about safety issues?
MM: I think that the more it is talked about on a daily basis, the more that it will be relevant. The more comfortable it is to talk about a subject then the less it seems like a lecture or just a bunch of rules that are supposed to be followed. These precautions are set with the operator in mind, not to just make things difficult. If practiced regularly things become a habit.

Submitted by Mark McGrady

FUN AND HELPFUL LINKS FOR YOUR DAY

Finding Fresh Food in SC

SCDA Coronavirus updates

Stay-at-Home YF&R Day at the Statehouse

#STILLFARMING

Mr. Keown was raised on a livestock and hay farm in Iva, SC. While an FFA member at Crescent High School, he had the best Agricultural Education teachers who influenced him to become an agriculture teacher. He attended Clemson University and majored in Agricultural Education. Once graduating, he then taught high school agriculture classes for nine years- one year in Marion County and eight years at Crescent.

How important is it for farmers and other people in agriculture be safe?
TK: Safety should be first and foremost on every worker’s mind. Human lives are much more valuable than cutting corners on a job to get it done faster. I preach that my students and employees must complete their job slowly and safely. Farmers have a dangerous job at times, especially around hay equipment, livestock, and all the moving parts on a tractor or combine. All of the students and employees at our school must pass a safety test each year.

What do you think is the best way to teach agricultural safety?
TK: Mixed instruction is the best method. Classroom instruction coupled with hands-on instruction is what our students will be exposed to. One of the key components of Agricultural Education is hands-on learning. When learning safety, the same method applies and is proven effective. Clemson University Agricultural Mechanization instructors and students have a fantastic safety program that allows students to have a hands-on approach to safety while learning.

What is the biggest way to leave an impression on middle to high school age children?
TK: This is simple, lead by example. Youth learn by watching what adults do. If we are setting a good example and using our agricultural equipment safely, normally they will follow in our footsteps. Of course, if we are negligent in our actions, so will they.

What can be done to spread awareness about safety issues?
TK: Programs like Clemson’s Ag. Safety workshops serve as a great introduction to the importance of practicing safety. We need to familiarize students early on to make an impact in their adult lives.

Do you have any advice for the agricultural sector in this time of uncertainty?
TK: Agricultural workers are essential to the rest of society for several obvious reasons. My wish is that those who are not employed in our industry would become more appreciative of those working to produce their food, clothing, and shelter. My advice to the agricultural sector would be to keep your head held high, continue to work hard (and safely), and be thankful that you all are THE glue that keeps America held together! Remember, we all need a doctor or a lawyer a few times in our life, but we need a farmer three times a day!

Check out the John de la Howe School for Agriculture here.

Submitted by Tim Keown