September 5, 2000

Safety steps to reduce farm work injuries can pay big financial dividends

Editors, broadcasters: Sept. 17-23, 2000 is National Farm Safety and Health Week. This is the sixth in a series of stories for you to use in connection with that observance, or at any other time.

Avoiding farm work injuries that interfere with fall harvest can pay big financial dividends for crop producers. That is documented in a study by John Shutske, farm safety and health specialist with the University of Minnesota Extension Service. The study indicates that lost time during fall harvest in the upper Midwest can cost a producer over $300 per day. This total is separate from medical, hospital, and other related expenses.

Shutske uses a computer program that simulates a "typical" crop production season in which time is an important variable. Time is then "removed" to simulate downtime, or lost work time, due to unexpected events such as mechanical breakdowns and personal injuries. Financial information derived from Shutske's work suggests:

1) Preparing machines before the harvest season will pay financially. This means performing routine maintenance, replacing worn parts, replacing safety shields, and making sure lights and flashers work and slow-moving vehicle emblems are clean. Machinery breakdowns during harvest are likely to result in frustration or anger that leads to excess stress as well as greater chance of injury.

2) Safety is of utmost economic importance. Steps to increase safety include repairing safety equipment, making sure shields are in place, blocking up the combine header before working underneath, and making sure you are very visible when traveling on rural roads. Many serious lost-time injuries occur when getting in and out of a machine, so make sure ladders, steps, and handholds are in good condition. When climbing up or down, always maintain at least three points of contact-one hand and two feet or one foot and two hands.

3) Combine fires are costly. Keep the combine and other machines clean. Watch for sources of combustible materials that could lead to a fire, such as leaky fuel lines, weak hydraulic hoses, and oil-soaked crop residue. Make sure there is at least one, and preferably two, ten-pound ABC dry chemical fire extinguishers on every combine. Smaller extinguishers are useless against a typical combine fire.

If your combine does catch on fire, it's important to quickly pull away from the standing crop (within a few seconds) and shut off the engine before trying to fight the fire.

4) Taking breaks is a key investment of a small amount of time to reduce injury risk and stress. It's important to get down off a machine every two hours or so, even for a five-minute leg stretch. Drink lots of water, even in cool weather.

If you pack a lunch, include an apple, grapes, carrot sticks, or other fruits and vegetables. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein give your body the necessary energy and nutrition to meet the physical demands of long work hours.

5) Set up a communication system to minimize downtime costs. Some producers use CB radios or two-way radios, but cell phones are becoming increasingly common. They make it possible to improve scheduling, line up parts and repairs, and coordinate family activities. They also provide a way to get help in case of an emergency. But avoid using a cell phone when driving, even on rural highways. Recent studies have shown the potential for a roadway accident is four times greater when driving while using a cell phone.

Shutske's work has been supported by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Midwest Center for Agricultural Disease and Injury Research, Education, and Prevention.

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Source:  John Shutske, (612) 625-9733
Editor:   Joseph Kurtz, (612) 625-3168, jk@umn.edu

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URL: http:// www.extension.umn.edu/extensionnews/2000/SafetyStepsToReduceFarm.html  This page was updated May 21, 2002 .
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