Author: mlovern

Ag Injury News

10/4/2026: At least 14 injured after tractor pulling hayride rolls: NY sheriff

9/27/2026: Farm worker dies after head caught between truck’s tailgate and bed in Richland

9/25/2026: Three injured after side-by-side collides with horse pulling farm equipment

9/23/2026: Patterson man, 71, thrown from utility vehicle in fatal collision with pickup

9/17/2026: Boone County man run over by tractor, taken to University Hospital

9/15/2026: 3-year-old dies after Lancaster County farm accident

9/9/2026: Bloomfield farm worker injured after leg caught in silo auger

Electrical Safety

Electrical safety is an important part of maintaining a safe and productive farm. From operating large equipment near overhead power lines to using everyday electrical tools in workshops or barns, hazards can be present throughout agricultural operations. Regular inspection, proper equipment maintenance, safe work practices, and awareness of electrical hazards can prevent serious injuries and fatalities. 

Common Electrical Hazards on the Farm

Agricultural environments present several unique electrical risks because of humid and wet conditions.

• Overhead Power Lines: Tractors, combines, grain augers, irrigation equipment, and other tall machinery can come in contact with overhead power lines.
• Damaged Wiring: Exposed wires, frayed cords, and damaged electrical connections can cause electrical shock and fire.
• Wet Conditions: Water, mud, and moisture around electrical equipment increase the risk of electrical shock. When appropriate, use Type NMC wiring or other wiring that does not have paper insulators.
• Overloaded Circuits: Plugging too many items into an outlet or circuit can cause overheating and fire.
• Improper Equipment Repairs: Attempting electrical repairs without proper training can result in serious injury or even death.
• Underground Power Lines: Digging, trenching, or installing fence posts without locating underground utilities can result in dangerous electrical contact. Always call 811 before you dig to avoid fines.

Watch Out for Overhead Power Lines

Overhead power lines are one of the most serious electrical hazards on farms. Tall agricultural equipment can easily come into contact with power lines, especially when moving between fields or working near grain bins and irrigation systems.

Practice these safety measures:

• Always identify overhead power lines before moving equipment.
• Maintain required clearance distances from electrical lines.
• Lower augers, booms, and other raised equipment before transporting.
• Never attempt to move or raise equipment near power lines without considering electrical clearance.
• Be aware of power lines when unloading grain, moving irrigation equipment, or operating cranes and loaders.

Remember: Electricity can arc or jump through the air. Direct contact with a power line is not always necessary for electrocution to occur.

If a tractor, combine, grain auger, or other piece of equipment contacts an overhead power line:

1. Stay inside the equipment. The equipment may become energized.
2. Warn others to stay away from the machinery and surrounding area.
3. Call 911 and the electrical utility company.
4. Do not touch the equipment or attempt to move the power line.
5. Remain inside until utility personnel confirm the power has been disconnected.

Before Starting Electrical Work

Electricity should never be taken lightly. Before working on electrical equipment:

• Disconnect the power source.
• Follow proper lockout/tagout procedures.
• Verify that the equipment is de-energized using appropriate testing equipment.
• Never assume a circuit is safe simply because a switch is turned off.
• Use qualified electricians for repairs beyond your training.
• Never work on energized electrical equipment unless properly trained, qualified, and equipped to do so.

Water and Electricity Don’t Mix

Agricultural work frequently involves water through irrigation systems, livestock watering facilities, washing equipment, and outdoor operations.

Keep electrical safety in mind:

• Never handle electrical equipment with wet hands.
• Avoid using damaged electrical cords in wet areas.
• Keep electrical connections protected from moisture.
• Use properly rated outdoor electrical equipment.
• Never stand in water while operating electrical equipment.
• Install GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets in wet areas.

Questions

1. What does GFCI stand for?
2. What type of wire is best for humid or wet conditions?
3. Before digging, who should you always call to mark underground utilities?
4. True or False: If you come in contact with a power line, you should immediately exit the cab and walk around the incident.
5. True or False: GFCIs should be installed in wet or damp areas.

Answers

1. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
2. Type NMC
3. 811
4. False
5. True

Ag Injury News

9/1/2026: UPDATE: 74-year-old killed in Viroqua grain bin accident

9/1/2026: Man Killed, 2 Children Hurt in Tractor Crash in South-Central MN

8/27/2026: Man rescued from grain bin in Illinois

8/27/2026: Ithaca School District mourns student killed in farming accident

8/26/2026: Man dies after being trapped under farm equipment near Castlewood Wednesday

8/16/2026: Dermott man killed in crash involving combine on U.S. 65 in McGehee

8/14/2026: 8-year-old killed in farm equipment ‘mishap’ in Mercer County

Rural Roadway Safety

South Carolina has some of the most dangerous rural roadways in the nation, ranking number 1 in 2022. Before ever operating agricultural equipment on roadways, ensure you have a slow-moving vehicle (SMV) sign on your equipment if you are traveling less than 25 mph, that all of your lights are on and working, and that you lock your left and right brakes together. Keeping our rural roadways safe for agricultural equipment operators means that both the operator of the agricultural equipment and passenger vehicles do everything to keep everyone safe. 

Common Rural Roadway Hazards

Agricultural workers and motorists may encounter hazards such as:

• Slow-moving farm equipment
• Wide or oversized machinery
• Blind hills or curves
• Narrow roads and bridges
• Limited shoulders
• Poor nighttime visibility
• Unmarked or lightly marked intersections
• Mud or debris on roadways
• Drivers attempting to pass farm equipment unsafely
• Distracted or impatient drivers

Farm Equipment – Make Yourself Visible

Farm equipment operators can help reduce collisions by making your equipment as visible as possible.

Before traveling on public roads:

• Make sure headlights, taillights, and warning lights are working properly.
• Keep the SMV sign clean and visible when required.
• Use appropriate reflective materials and lighting.
• Make sure your mirrors are adjusted properly.
• Avoid covering warning signs or lights with equipment or loads.
• Use turn signals whenever possible.
• Know the width and height of your equipment before entering the roadway.

Motorist – Share the Road

Drivers approaching agricultural equipment should remember that farm machinery may be traveling significantly slower than normal traffic.

Motorist should:

• Slow down when approaching farm equipment.
• Maintain a safe following distance.
• Watch for turn signals and hand signals.
• Be prepared for equipment to turn into a field or driveway.
• Avoid passing unless there is enough visibility and a safe, legal opportunity.
• Never pass near hills, curves, intersections, or other areas where visibility is limited.
• Be patient; farm equipment may need to use more than one lane.

A few extra minutes are worth protecting a life. The person operating agricultural equipment is always someone’s everything.

Passing Farm Equipment

Passing agricultural equipment can be dangerous because farm machinery may be wider than it appears or may make unexpected movements.

Before passing:

1. Make sure passing is legal.
2. Check for oncoming traffic.
3. Look for intersections, driveways, hills, and curves.
4. Watch for turn signals or other indications that the equipment may be turning.
5. Make sure you have enough space to safely pass.
6. Return to your lane only after you have safely cleared the equipment.

Never assume a slow-moving vehicle is going straight just because it is traveling slowly.

Nighttime Travel

Visibility becomes even more important after dark.

Farm equipment operators should:

• Use required lighting and reflectors.
• Keep lights and reflective devices clean.
• Check that all warning lights are functioning before leaving the farm.
• Avoid traveling during periods of extremely poor visibility when possible.

Motorists should remain especially alert for agricultural equipment that may be difficult to see at night.

Farm Family & Employee Safety

Everyone involved in farm operations should understand roadway safety procedures.

Make sure employees and family members know:

• Which roads equipment should use.
• How to safely enter and exit fields.
• How to communicate with other equipment operators.
• Where blind spots are located.
• How to use warning lights and SMV emblems.
• What to do if equipment breaks down on the roadway.

Good communication can prevent confusion and reduce the risk of collisions.

Questions

1. Before passing agricultural equipment on roadways, what should you do first?
2. A slow-moving vehicle sign indicates that you are traveling at what speed or less? 
3. At what times should you avoid traveling on public roadways in agricultural equipment?
4. True or False: In 2022, South Carolina ranked number 1 for deadliest rural roadways.  
5. True or False: Never pass near hills, curves, intersections, or other areas where visibility is limited.

Answers

1. Make sure passing is legal.
2. 25 mph or less
3. During periods of poor visibility
4. True
5. True

Cancer Prevention

Agricultural workers and farmers can experience long-term exposure to sunlight, pesticides, dust, and other workplace hazards. Reducing exposure today can help protect you from cancer in the future.

Protect Your Skin

Long-term exposure to UV radiation from the sun increases the risk of skin cancer. More than 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day in the US, and about 1 in 5 Americans will develop the disease by the age of 70.

• Wear a wide-brimmed hat.
• Wear long sleeves and protective clothing.
• Use sunscreen on exposed skin.
• Take breaks in shaded areas or indoors.
• Schedule outdoor work when UV levels are lower, in the mornings or evenings.
• Check your skin regularly for unusual changes.

Pesticide Safety

Ways to reduce pesticide exposure:

• Read and follow all pesticide labels.
• Wear the appropriate PPE that is specified on the label.
• Avoid spills and splashes. If you experience skin exposure, immediately remove any contaminated clothing and wash the area with clean water.
• Keep pesticides away from food and water.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after handling pesticides.
• Always store pesticides securely and properly.

Questions

1. Roughly how many Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer every day?
2. True or False: Long-term exposure to UV radiation from the sun can increase your risk of developing skin cancer.
3. Wearing a ______ – _________ _____ can help protect your face, neck, and ears from sun exposure.
4. True or False: If you get splashed with a pesticide, you should not worry about it and carry on with your day. 
5. When should outside work be scheduled to avoid direct sun exposure?

Answers

1. 9,500
2. True
3. Wide-brimmed hat
4. False
5. When UV levels are lower

Confined Space

Grain bins, silos, manure pits, tanks, wells, and other agricultural structures can all be considered confined spaces and pose many hazards. Hazards inside these confined spaces may not be visible, and entering a confined space without proper training and equipment can quickly become fatal.

Common Confined Space Hazards

• Oxygen-deficient atmospheres
• Toxic or flammable gases
• Grain engulfment
• Mechanical equipment
• Manure pit gases
• Entrapment
• Falls from elevated openings

Grain Bin Safety

Never enter a grain bin while grain is flowing. It acts like quicksand, and within 22 seconds you can become completely submerged in the grain.

Before entering:

• Lockout/tagout all loading and unloading equipment.
• Test the atmosphere in the bin.
• Ensure that you have the proper respiratory protection when necessary.
• Use a harness and lifeline.
• Never enter alone; bring at least two other people with you.

Manure Pit Safety

Manure can produce gases that are extremely dangerous, including hydrogen sulfide. Gas concentrations can increase rapidly, particularly during agitation.

Keep people and animals away from manure pits during agitation and pumping.

Don’t Become a Second Victim

If someone collapses inside a confined space, do not rush in after them.

Call 911 immediately. Unplanned rescues can often result in multiple victims and potentially multiple fatalities.

Questions

1. Before entering a grain bin, what should you do first?
2. True or False: If a person collapses in a confined space, you should immediately jump in after them.
3. Hazards may not be _________ inside confined spaces.
4. True or False: Gas concentrations in manure pits can increase rapidly during agitation.
5. Confined spaces often have limited room and are not designed for ___________ ____________. 

Answers

1. Lockout/tagout loading and unloading equipment
2. False
3. Visible
4. True
5. Continuous occupancy