Farm Safety for the Growing Season

With Alexandra Jump

Farm Safety Educator, UVM Extension Vt. AgrAbility Project

Overview

• Where you work

Overview

• Where you work• Environmental Factors

Overview

• Where you work• Environmental Factors• Pests and other Nastiness

Overview

• Where you work• Environmental Factors• Pests and other Nastiness• Farm visitors

Overview

• Where you work• Environmental Factors• Pests and other Nastiness• Farm visitors• Children on the farm

What is the issue?• A. Dog is driving the tractor, he has

not taken a tractor safety course.

• B. The Dog is not wearing a seatbelt.

• C. The ROPS has been modified…

Where you work1. General farmstead2. Farm buildings3. Shop4. Crop and Feed Storage Areas5. Livestock Facilities6. Tractors and Machinery Areas7. Greenhouses8. Farm Stand9. Sugar House

Farm House

Instead of this….

General farmstead• Fenced in play areas for children• Designated places to park tractors and

equipment• Buildings and outdoor work areas well lit• Ponds, lagoons or manure pits fenced off• Junk piles are cleaned up• Limited access signs posted (if you

choose to have farm visitors)

Farm Buildings

The same barn after…

The accident

This is a “round-to-it” problem

Farm Buildings• Are there telephones, cell phone

reception or walkie-talkies located in each farm building?

• Emergency contact numbers posted?• Fire extinguishers and first aid

boxes?• Electrical wiring in good condition?• Structurally Sound?

Shops and StorageCorrosivesExplosivesCombustibles

Pretty neat… but

Dangerous

Shop and Storage• Clean?• Good ventilation• Can the shop be locked to prevent

children and unauthorized people from entering?

• Corrosive, Explosive and Combustibles

– keep battery acid, fuels, oily rags or papers away from welding areas and heaters.

Crop and Feed Storage

Barn Cats love Feed Bags

Andrew Wheeler Age 11

Wheeler, who was a student at Maple Avenue Elementary School, died Friday afternoon, said a spokesman from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. He had been in critical condition at the medical center since the accident Tuesday, when he was buried beneath silage grain at MacGlaflin Farm at 35 Case Hill Road.

By MELANIE PLENDAUnion Leader Correspondent Monday, April 26, 2010Unionleader.com

Crop and Storage Areas• Can the entrances to feed or grain

storage be locked?• Are children prohibited from playing

in grain bins and silage bunkers?• Are storage and drying areas free of

trash and other fire hazards? • Are permanent ladders attached

securely and in good condition?

Livestock facilities

Are areas picked up?

Sturdy pasture gates?

Chicken friendly coop

Livestock Facilities• Are fences sturdy and well

maintained?• Are children prohibited from playing in

barns or pens?• Are vents and fans in good repair?• Is the shelter appropriate for the

animals?• Do you have a designated petting area

for certain animals?

Tractors and Machinery

Teach them young

Hydraulic fluid under pressure can penetrate skin easily.

If an accident occurs see a doctor immediately. Any fluid injected into the skin must be surgically removed within a few hours or gangrene may result. Doctors unfamiliar with this type of injury should reference a knowledgeable medical source.

PTO- power take off

Tractors and Machinery• Have operators been trained on the

equipment?• Is there a “no extra rider” policy on

the farm• Do tractors have ROPS and PTO

cover shields?• Conduct a walk around inspection

prior to working machinery.

Environmental Factors

Personal Protection Equipment

GlovesHeadphones or Ear budsMasksSafety suitsWork boots

Air Contaminants

Water and Summer Storms

Environmental FactorsPersonal Protective Equipment

eyes, ears, gloves, masks, shoes, clothing

Sun exposureAir contaminantsWaterSummer storms

Pests and other Nastiest

Blacklegged (or deer )Ticks transmit Lyme disease and have been found in Shelburne and Cambridge Vermont this year.

http://healthvermont.gov/prevent/lyme/personal.aspx

Pesticide safety tips• Always read the label before buying

and/or using pesticides. Use pesticides only for the purpose(s) listed and in the manner directed.

• Keep children and pets away from

pesticides and areas where pesticides have been applied.

Boot scrubLook for a disinfectant and virucide. This makes it effective against viruses, bacteria and fungi. I use Virkon S. it comes in a powder and you can premix. Gempler’s carries it.

Picks and pokes

This one not this one

Pests and other Nastiest • Diseases• Poisons• Insects• Chemicals and Medications

Farm Visitors

Teachable moments

New babies are cute, but

Dogs.

Farm Visitors• Where are they authorized to be?• Are there clear signs?• Posted rules around the animals?• Posted rules around the farmstead? • No-unsupervised visitor policy?

Children on the Farm

Children take pride in what they do

Is it age appropriate?

Teach the adult and the child will reinforce the lesson

Children on the Farm• Children will learn mimic what you do

on the farm. • Age appropriate Tasks• Time appropriate lessons• Child restricted areas