Friday, September 6, 2019
CapitalPress.com
7
Stayin’ alive: Agriculture safety tips from the pros
Agricultural safety
experts share advice
on how farmers can
stay safe in 2019
By SIERRA DAWN MCCLAIN
Capital Press
SALEM, Ore. — Many
farmers consider their work
rewarding, but agriculture
ranks among the most dan-
gerous professions in the
U.S., according to the USDA.
Safety experts share a few
tips on how farmers can stay
safe in 2019:
Deadliest roads
“Country roads, take me
home.” But drivers, be care-
ful. The roads least traveled
are the nation’s deadliest,
according to federal highway
data.
The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administra-
tion’s most recent report
reveals drivers on rural roads
die at a rate 2.1 times higher
per mile traveled than in
urban areas.
According to NHTSA,
rural
highways,
which
receive less federal money,
are more likely to have out-
dated designs and potholes.
Wild animals dart into traf-
fic more often. Rural drivers
tend to drive faster. And in a
crash, they’re more likely to
die before getting medical
help since hospitals are far-
ther away.
According to National
Occupant Protection Use
Surveys, people in rural
areas also drive at higher
rates without seat belts. Sixty
percent of those who die in
pickup trucks aren’t using
a seat belt, according to
NHTSA.
Safety officials encour-
age rural drivers to wear seat
belts, watch out for wild-
Capital Press File
Capital Press File
A tractor pulling a disc harrow is followed by motorists on a road near Meridian,
Idaho. Police remind motorists to drive carefully around farm equipment.
Safety signs such these can be seen around Marion
County, Ore. The signs urge drivers to be aware of farm
equipment and to pass with care.
life, be careful on old high-
ways and recognize that
the “it won’t be me” men-
tality won’t work when it
is you.
Crushing truth
According to research-
ers at Purdue University,
more than 900 cases of
grain engulfment have been
reported in the U.S. in the
past 50 years — with a 62%
fatality rate.
Entrapment
happens
when a person gets sucked
into grain and can’t get out
without help. This typically
happens in silos or grain ele-
vators but can also happen in
freestanding piles.
Jose Perez, corporate
senior manager for health
and safety at the Wonder-
ful Co. and member of the
American Society of Safety
Professionals, said commu-
nication is crucial.
“Tell someone when
you’re going into the grain
area,” he said.
Perez said you should
also have a lifeline. “Always
have a harness and lanyard
when you go into a silo,” said
Perez. “If you get engulfed
like quick sand, having a
line attached will save your
life. This isn’t new. It’s just
not utilized anywhere near
enough.”
Overheated workers
One of the most serious
dangers for nursery workers
is heat illness, said Perez.
“Pay attention to the tem-
perature inside greenhouses
and how that impacts peo-
ple,” said Perez. “Create a
good heat illness prevention
program. Hydrate, hydrate.”
ask for help. Please tell me
when something is hard or
dangerous.’ And workers
need to talk with each other,
too.”
Keep learning
The North American Agri-
cultural Safety Summit, hosted
by the Agricultural Safety and
Health Council of America,
will take place March 19-20
at Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel and
Casino in Nevada.
Safety culture
Perez said agricultural
safety is about mindset.
He said it’s important to
consider the culture and
background of agricultural
workers. He immigrated
to the U.S. from Mexico,
where he said he did not feel
comfortable talking with
managers. If an agricultural
laborer comes from a hier-
archical background, Perez
explained, they may believe
they should not bother the
“boss” and should use what-
ever tool they’ve got.
“But ‘get-the-job-done’
culture can work against
you if you’ve learned to
think you shouldn’t ask for
help,” said Perez. “Farm
managers need to recog-
nize workers’ backgrounds
and tell them, ‘It’s OK to
Safety19-4/106
Safety19-4/106
Safety19-4/101