Category: Safety Information

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Many people experience mood changes or where they do not really feel like themselves when the seasons change and the weather begins to get colder. This is especially common in the farming community because being outside in the sun and warmer weather is part of a farmer’s livelihood. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also commonly known as seasonal depression is common among all walks of life and is often attributed to the shorter days and colder weather. While seasonal depression can look different for everyone, some common symptoms of SAD are oversleeping, overeating and weight gain, and social withdrawal.

Tips to curb your seasonal depression:

• Only try to control what you can. Sometimes, a bad day on the farm can make you feel like you have a bad life. Always try to see the bright side and remember that these colder and shorter days will soon end with the coming of Spring.
• Limit your intake of social media and news outlets. When the days get shorter, many are forced to spend more time inside consuming news and media. This can cause you to look differently on your life and make you feel like your life, farm, or family is less than the others around you. Remember that social media is not always true and keep a positive outlook on what is in front of you.
• Find something to look forward to in both the short-term and long-term. Look for both little and big things that keep your mind off the weather and daylight. This can help keep you out of a slump in the colder months and give you a reason to keep progressing forward.
• Take time to socialize during the off months of farming. This time of the year is perfect for you, your family, and your friends to spend quality time together that is so often missed during the busy farming season. This also gives you something to look forward to and, once again, keeps you mind off of sadness.

Questions

1. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is also commonly known as ___________ _____________.
2. What are the three common symptoms of SAD?
3. What are the two main causes of SAD?
4. True or False: Finding little and big things to look forward to during the colder months can help curb SAD.
5. True or False: You should consume as much news and social media during the colder months because everything you see is true and your life is not as good as those around you.

Answers

1. Seasonal Depression
2. Oversleeping, overeating and weight gain, and social withdrawal are three common symptoms of SAD.
3. Shorter days and colder weather are two main causes of SAD.
4. True
5. False

Questions

1. Before attaching or detaching your PTO, you should do what?
2. What are the three things that should be done or checked before traveling on a roadway?
3. If your machine is equipped with a ROPS, what should you do?
4. True or False: Taking rest, having adequate meals, and having a good night’s rest do not affect your ability to stay alert.
5. Before allowing youth to complete a task, what should you do?

Answers

1. Always turn the machine off before attaching or detaching your PTO.
2. Ensure that all lights are working properly, the slow-moving vehicle sign is on and visible, and that the left and right brakes are locked together.
3. Always wear your seatbelt if the equipment has a ROPS or cab.
4. False
5. Ensure that they are properly trained and that the task is suitable for their size and skill set.

Harvest Safety

Harvest time can be very stressful for all involved. With stress often comes shortcuts, and safety is often forgotten about. While many believe that this may save them time, in the event of an accident, more time is lost because those injured may no longer be able to assist with the harvest. Follow these tips below to stay safe during harvest season.

Equipment
Much of the equipment that is used on farms is older and might lack the safety features that are required on newer equipment. With this in mind, always be cautious and aware when using older equipment to ensure that you and your employees do not become injured. Also, if your equipment is equipped with a ROPS (Roll – Over Protective Structure) or a cab, ensure that you put your seatbelt on before traveling. Always remember to check that all guards are in place and that all lights are properly working to alert others on the road that there is a slow-moving vehicle ahead of them.

Turn off the machine.
Before attaching and detaching your PTO or cleaning debris from any implement, ensure that you have turned off your machine. On older machines specifically, the PTO can become engaged by the rattling of the engine resulting in a potential entanglement with the PTO or implement. Turning off the machine also ensures that others can not engage the PTO if they do not know that you are working around the implement.

Take ample breaks and ensure a good night’s rest.
During harvest season, often farmers and workers will work long hours with little sleep, breaks, and meals. It is important to take breaks and eat meals so that you stay alert, to not only keep yourself safe but also keep your workers safe. Also, remember to stay hydrated because even though we are now in the fall season, the weather in much of the state is still very warm, and heat exhaustion or stroke are still ever present.

Youth safety during the fall harvest season.
Youth are often called to work during the fall harvest season as an extra set of hands. Before allowing youth to complete a task, ensure that they are properly trained and that the task is suitable for their size and skill set. Remember that they are not as experienced as you and need additional guidance and supervision on the task at hand.

Traveling on roadways.
Many farms across the state must access public roadways to reach other fields. Before venturing on the roadways, ensure that all lights are working properly, your slow-moving vehicle sign is visible, and that your left and right brakes are locked together. It is also recommended to travel public roadways during less busy times to avoid passenger vehicles on roadways. If possible, always have a lead vehicle and a follow vehicle. This will limit how close other passenger vehicles can come to you on the road.

Questions

1. During exercise, ________ ________ increase to the brain, helping keep it healthy. 
2. True or False: Your brain is like your biceps. If you do not use it, you will lose it. 
3. Getting a good night’s rest promotes _________. 
4. True or False: The brain is the most important organ in the body. 
5. Before operating an ATV, UTV, or other vehicle where the rider might fall off, what should be worn? 

Answers

1. Blood flow
2. True
3. Memory
4. True
5. A helmet to help reduce the risk of trauma to the brain.

Brain Health

The brain is the most vital organ in your body. Because of this, it is essential to take steps in life to protect and promote the health of your brain. Protecting your brain can be looked at in two ways, both physically and mentally. Taking steps to protect and promote your brain health should be considered a necessity in everyday life. Below are some tips to help keep your brain healthy.

Physically protect your brain.
Before riding on ATVs, UTVs, or any other type of vehicle where the rider is subject to falling off, it is important to wear a helmet. A helmet helps protect the brain from trauma if the rider falls off. This can reduce the risk of concussions and trauma to the brain.

Exercise regularly.
Exercising regularly promotes blood flow to the brain and helps keep your brain healthy as well as your body. With increased blood flow to the brain, you are less likely to experience mental decline as you age.

Get plenty of sleep.
Getting a good night’s rest helps promote your memory and your brain health. It is recommended to get 7 – 9 hours of sleep a night. Sleep not only helps with brain health, but it also helps with stress management and overall body health. While getting a good night’s rest may not be easy, strive to have a set bedtime and rise time to promote overall bodily health.

Remain mentally active throughout your life.
Your brain is just like your biceps… If you stop using your biceps, you will become weaker. If you stop exercising your brain, you will lose your mental capacity. This can be as simple as staying social or doing daily word puzzles. Just remember to challenge your brain every day.

Questions

1. All confined spaces should be ______ so others know before entering.
2. True or False: Spaces should be evaluated to determine if a space needs a permit to enter. 
3. Why do most incidents occur in confined spaces?
4. True or False: If an incident occurs in a confined space where someone becomes unconscious, you should immediately enter in to save the person. 
5. Confined spaces often have limited room and are not designed for ___________ ____________. 

Answers

1. Labeled
2. True
3. Low oxygen levels in the confined space
4. False
5. Constant occupancy

Confined Space Safety

Confined spaces are often found in agricultural operations and often require entry. While these spaces are not designed for people, they often must be entered to perform various tasks and maintenance work. These spaces often have limited room for entry and exit and are not designed for continuous occupancy.

OSHA Standards and Requirements for Confined Spaces

Before entering a space, evaluate the space to determine if a permit is required to enter the space.
Take measures to ensure that employees do not enter a permitted space if they are not trained or equipped with the proper PPE.
Develop a plan for entering confined spaces and have all necessary certifications and trainings.

Incident Prevention

Label all confined spaces. This allows workers to identify confined spaces and take the proper measures before entry.
Evaluate all confined spaces to determine if they contain any potential hazards.
Provide workers with the proper training on determining if a confined space is hazard free and allows adequate entry and exit.
Test the air quality before entering a confined space. Most incidents occur because of low oxygen levels, combustible gas in the air, or toxins. In the event of an incident, never go in after the person. Call local responders to perform the extraction.
While a worker is in a confined space, contact is always kept with them.

Questions

1. True or False: There are often reproductive hazards to women in agriculture.
2. What is often a barrier to safety training for migrant and immigrant workers?
3. What group provides assistance to farmers with disabilities? 
4. Youth should have proper _________ and ____________ before being allowed to do an agricultural-related task. 
5. What are some common disabilities seen in aging farmers? 

Answers
1. True
2. Language barriers
3. AgrAbility
4. Proper training and supervision
5. Hearing loss, loss of mobility, and loss of response time

Priority Populations in Agriculture

The agricultural industry is comprised of a wide variety of people who all have different backgrounds. Often, when people think of agriculture, they think of the stereotypical answer of an older white man wearing over-alls holding a pitchfork. While some agricultural producers may look like this, many of them do not. Today we will shine light on the many diverse groups that call themselves agricultural producers.

Women
In the past, farm equipment, PPE, and other agricultural-related devices were solely designed for the use of men. This has resulted in a greater risk for females who work in the agricultural industry because women often are smaller in size and weaker. Thus making being involved in agricultural operations more hazardous for them. Another common concern for women in agriculture is the potential for infertility and other reproductive risks that can come from blood pathogens from animals and exposure to various chemicals.

Migrant and Immigrant Farm Workers
It is estimated that 75% of all farm workers come from countries other than the US. Because of this, there are often language barriers between farm workers and their supervisors. This can result in reduced safety training for the farm workers, placing them in hazardous working environments.

Aging Farmers
In South Carolina, most primary farmers are above the age of 50. Hearing loss, loss of mobility, and slower response times are common disabilities that are seen in older farmers. By understanding risks and limitations, tasks can be modified for older producers to ensure that they are not put at risk of being injured. Assistance is also available for producers that have disabilities that are often associated with age. Visit the SC AgrAbility website for more information.

Youth
Oftentimes, youth are called to work on farms outside of school hours. While this can be a great help, many tasks are dangerous and not designed for youth to do. Always ensure that youth are properly trained before allowing them to perform a task and that they have the proper supervision. Always ensure that youth understand that the farm is not a playground and that incidents can happen in a matter of seconds.