Tag: National Farm Safety and Health Week 2021

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.

Pesticide Safety Fact Sheet

DESCRIPTION
This fact sheet aims to provide the reader with valuable information about handling, using, and disposing of pesticides safely.

WHY?
• To protect people, both yourself and others.
• To protect the environment, including, but not limited to, water, plants, and animals.

HUMAN HARM
Humans can be poisoned or injured by pesticides. Poisoning results when pesticides enter the body and cause internal harm. Injury results when pesticides cause damage to the external body.
Toxicity level is the measure of how harmful a pesticide is. Toxicity is dependent upon the amount of pesticide exposure. Exposure is when a pesticide comes in contact with any part of a person’s body.

RESPONDING TO POISONING EMERGENCY
1. Stop pesticide exposure
2. Call for emergency help
3. Check the label to determine if any actions can be taken before help arrives.

SKIN EXPOSURE
1. Drench skin with water
2. Remove PPE/contaminated clothing
3. Wash skin/hair thoroughly with mild detergent
4. Cover victim and prevent overheating or becoming too cold
5. Use a soft, loose bandage for burns.
*Do not apply creams or powders.*

OCULAR EXPOSURE
1. Quickly wash your eyes with a gentle drip of clean water for 15+ minutes.
*Do not add anything to the water!*

INHALATION OF PESTICIDE
1. Get the victim and anyone else to fresh air.
2. Loosen tight clothing and use artificial respiration are necessary.
*Use an airway tube if available to prevent direct contact in mouth-to-mouth.*

MOUTH EXPOSURE
1. Rinse mouth
2. Give the victim lots of water or milk to drink.
*Only induce vomiting if instructed on the label.*

LABEL AND CLASSIFICATION
Pesticide labeling is the law and must be followed. There are two classifications for pesticides, unclassified and restricted. Unclassified, or general use, does not require a pesticide certification to purchase and use. Restricted, or RUP (Restricted Use Pesticide), pesticides could cause harm to humans and the environment and require a certificate to buy and use.

Youth Agricultural Safety Fact Sheet

DESCRIPTION
The objective is to provide basic information regarding the health and safety of youth in and around agricultural operations.

FACTS
• Children 20 years of age or younger account for 104 deaths annually on farms and ranches.
• Two common causes for agriculturally related child fatalities are drowning or machinery incidents.
• Most non-fatal injuries are caused by livestock or falls.
• Children injured on agricultural worksites are often bystanders.

KEEPING YOUTH SAFE
• Keep children in age appropriate farm tasks.
• Provide properly sized and age appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Never leave children unsupervised.
• Limit the access of non-working children from the agricultural worksite.

FACTORS TO CONSIDER
• Make sure children possess the strength, coordination, and motor skills to minimize risks on the farm workplace.
• Children should have the cognitive capacity to recognize and react to potential hazards.
• The ability to follow instructions is a skill children must have.
• The physical size of a child may be a factor to consider when bringing them to the worksite.

PROMOTING SAFETY
• Arrange for child care for non-working children.
• Teach children about hazards and dangers from a young age.
• Recognize and obey child labor laws.

*Image courtesy of Safety in Agriculture for Youth (SAY)*

Overall Farmer Health Fact Sheet

DESCRIPTION

The objective is to provide basic information regarding the overall health of farmers and how to get help if needed.

OVERVIEW

Recently, farmer health has taken a new focus other than day-to-day hazards on the farm. This new focus includes drug abuse and a stern look at mental health based on the tolling past growing seasons. On average, farmers and ranchers have suicide rates 3.5 times higher than the general population (Chadde, 2020). If you or a loved one needs help, please do not be afraid to ask for it. We are all in this together.

CLUES WHEN IDENTIFYING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS

• A decline in care of crops, animals, and farm
• Deterioration of personal appearance
• Increasing life insurance policy
• Withdrawing from social events, family, and friends
• Change in mood or routine
• Increase in farm accidents
• Feeling trapped with no way out
• Difficulty sleeping
• Increases in drug or alcohol use

3/4 farmers and farmworkers have been affected by opioid abuse directly

3/4 farmers say it is easy to obtain opioid pain killers without having a prescription

2/5 farmers believe they could find adequate help for an addiction

National Suicide Hotline
800-273-8255

Tractor and Rural Roadway Safety Fact Sheet

DESCRIPTION
The objective is to provide basic tractor and rural roadway safety information, including operating procedures and proper roadway etiquette.

OPERATION OF MACHINE
• Check for bystanders.
• Be familiar with the terrain and work area to identify any debris or obstacles
• Keep body within the platform.
• Allow glow plugs to heat before starting.
• Ensure the machine is neutral before starting, PTO is disengaged, and the clutch is depressed.
• Set range to the desired position with the clutch depressed.
• Carry loads as low as possible (if loader equipped) and always on the drawbar.
• Always keep the PTO properly shielded and walk around tractor and PTO driven implement.
• Be conscientious of tipping points.
• Drive slow enough to keep control over unexpected hazards and do not stop suddenly or make sudden movements.
• Travel up/down slopes rather than across, taking extra care when ascending or descending steep slopes.
• Take care when refueling to avoid spilling fuel onto a hot motor or exhaust.
• Maintain three points of contact when entering and exiting the machine.

DO
• Perform a pre-operation safety check
• Travel up/down slopes rather than across
• Always apply the parking brake when ending operation and exit the vehicle

DON’T
• Carry passengers
• Modify the ROPS
• Use faulty equipment
• Ignore the tipping point of the machine

ROADWAY ETIQUETTE
• Make farm equipment visible with lights and flashers
• Remember the size of the farm equipment you are operating; avoid low bridges, power lines, and overhead structures.
• Communicate your movements with other motorists that are on the road.

TIPS FOR MOTORIST
• Give tractors and combines plenty of room to operate.
• Expect wider turns and the potential for the use of two lanes.
• While in front of farm equipment, do not come to a sudden stop.
• Watch for hand signals and other ways operators might communicate about their driving plans.

Source: Farm Bureau Financial Services