Tag: National Farm Safety and Health Week 2022

Questions

1. True or false: women are typically more susceptible to depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses.
2. What percentage of farmers are female in the United States?
3. _________ women face risks that other women might now.
4. What cancer is a predominant risk for women in agriculture?
5. Why can working with livestock be harmful to a pregnant woman?

Answers

1. True
2. 31%
3. Pregnant
4. Breast cancer
5. Harmful bacteria can be passed from the mother to the unborn baby.

Safety and Health for Women in Agriculture

About 31% of farmers in the United States are female. While women can perform the same tasks as men, women often face struggles that men do not. Some of these struggles pertain to size and strength, pregnancy risks, and stress risks.

Gender Specific Risks

• Breast cancer can be a risk for women involved in agriculture. Women may be exposed to chemicals that can cause cancer, and breast cancer is of the utmost concern.
• Women are typically a smaller size than their male counterparts. This causes women to not be able to lift, reach, and move the same amount of weight as men. Some women may overextend their bodies, resulting in injury to muscles, bones, and ligaments.
• Women are more susceptible to depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses than men. Stressors of farm life, work life, and home life can increase the chances of depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses.
• Pregnant women also face risks that other women might not face. Concerns over chemical and pesticide use and livestock work are at the top of the list. Some chemicals may be harmful to both the mother and the baby. Issues may arise while working with livestock because of the potential for harmful bacteria being passed to the mother and then later to the baby.

Questions

1. What should you do if someone is in a confined space?
2. True or False: in the event of an incident, immediately go into the confined space to retrieve the person.
3. All confined spaces should be __________.
4. What are the main causes of incidents in confined spaces?
5. True or False: silos are considered a confined space.

Answers

1. Remain in contact with the person in the confined space.
2. False
3. labeled
4. Low oxygen levels, flammable gasses in the air, and toxins
5. True

Confined Spaces

OSHA defines confined spaces as spaces that are not designed for people, but often people must enter these spaces to perform work. Confined spaces have limited entrances and exits and are not intended for people to occupy them all the time. Some confined spaces include tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, pits, manholes, tunnels, equipment housings, ductwork, and pipelines.

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. What is the main cause of fatal incidents for youth?
2. Youth should be assigned _____________ tasks.
3. True or false: non-working youth should be included in all agricultural practices.
4. Prior to allowing youth to work around agriculture, what should be done?
5. As an adult, you should always be a good _____ _______ concerning safe practices.

Answers

1. Machinery
2. Age-appropriate
3. False
4. Youth should be trained and provided the proper PPE.
5. Role model

Safety and Health for Youth in Agriculture

Many youths are involved in agriculture on a daily basis. It is estimated that 104 youth under the age of 20 are involved in fatal agricultural incidents a year. The main cause of fatal incidents is machinery, and the main cause of non-fatal incidents is falling. It is important to always supervise and train youth before allowing them to complete an agricultural task.

Tips to keep youth safe in agriculture

• Keep non-working youth out of agricultural practices. This limits the amount of exposure youth have to potential injuries. If non-working youth must be on the farm during work, ensure that they have adult supervision.
• Assign youth age-appropriate tasks and train them in these tasks. By assigning them age-appropriate tasks, they likely better accommodate their smaller size and reduce the risk of injury.
• Always provide youth with the proper PPE.
• Ensure that all equipment and machines are in proper working condition and have the proper safety devices before allowing youth to operate them.
• Teach the youth about the many hazards surrounding agriculture and how to be safe around these hazards.
• As an adult, be a good role model. Often, youth look to the adults around to understand what to do. If you are following safe practices, youth will follow in your footsteps.
• Provide opportunities for youth to learn. As you are working around agriculture, ensure that the youth understand the process and are able to gain meaningful knowledge from the event.

Questions

1. What are the three main stress factors related to farming?
2. What decibel level results in hearing loss?
3. While working in hot weather, you should do what?
4. Where do you find pesticide and chemical guidelines?
5. True or false: you should never approach livestock in their blind spot.

Answers

1. The weather, concern over the farm’s future, and outsiders not understanding the nature of farming.
2. 85 decibels
3. Drink plenty of water and seek shade when possible.
4. On the bottle or container
5. True

Overall Farmer Health

The agricultural profession is one of the most dangerous, both physically and mentally. Oftentimes, farmers are placed under extreme amounts of stress and hard labor. It is important for farmers, and those surrounding farmers, to take a step back and assess mental and physical health.

Health Risk Concerns for Farmers

• Exposure to hazardous chemicals. While working with chemicals, it is important to wear the proper PPE and follow all guidelines on the bottle or container. In the event of exposure, contact health professionals if required and bring the container or bottle with you if you are seeking medical attention.
• Exposure to loud noises. While working around equipment or machines that produce loud noises, it is important to wear hearing protection. Any noises above 85 decibels can result in hearing loss.
• Risk of heatstroke, hypothermia, or frostbite. The weather can play a large role in risks for farmers. While working in hot or cold conditions, always wear adequate clothing. In hot weather, drink plenty of water and seek shade often.
• Risk of injury from livestock. The livestock industry is very prominent in the United States. While working with livestock, always be aware of entry and exit points. Never approach an animal in its blind spot, and always ensure they know you are in their vicinity.

Mental Health Concerns for Farmers

Farmers do not only experience physical health risks but also mental health risks. The top three causes of mental health risks are the weather, concern over the future of the farm, and outsiders not understanding the nature of farming. Often these stressors are outside of the control of the farmer, however, they still present concern. These stressors can result in anxiety, depression, feelings of loneliness, or isolation. Because of these stressors, the farming population has a higher suicide rate than the general public.

Questions

1. What should always be present on a farm vehicle?
2. You should never follow to _______ to a farm vehicle.
3. When are more farm vehicles present on roadways?
4. True or False: farm vehicles typically travel at a faster rate of speed than passenger vehicles.
5. Ideally, farm vehicles should travel on roads when traffic is ________.

Answers

1. Slow moving vehicle sign and lights
2. Close
3. Harvest and planting seasons
4. False
5. Light

Tractor Safety and Rural Roadway Safety

While on rural roads, many people may encounter farm vehicles. Many incidents reported throughout the United States involve a tractor or farm vehicle and a passenger vehicle. It is essential to always remain aware of your surroundings, whether operating a tractor or passenger vehicle.

Tips for the farmer

• Keep all slow moving vehicle signs on the tractor and clean. These signs help signify to other roadway users that the vehicle is operating below the speed limit.
• Ensure that all flashing lights work properly so as to remain seen by others.
• If possible, travel roadways during light traffic. This limits the number of passenger vehicles that you will come in contact with.
• Always remain observant and aware of those that are around you.

Tips for the general public

• Slow down as soon as you see a farm vehicle or tractor. These vehicles are moving at a slower rate of speed than the average roadway vehicle.
• Never follow too close to a farm vehicle. Some farm vehicles might not be able to stop as quickly as a passenger vehicle.
• Be understanding of the time of year. During harvest or planting times, there will be a larger number of farm vehicles on roadways.