FB—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 7,1984 How to make 1984 safer WILMINGTON, Del. - Making your farm a safe place to live and work in 1984 is one goal you’ll want to reach - and keep. While there’s some good news concerning farm families and their safety consciousness, (80% of farm homes now have smoke detectors), farming continues to be a dangerous, high-risk occupation. That’s the consensus of a new farm safety survey just compiled by Du Pont Agricultural Chemicals, makers of “Lexone” DF. The survey questioned 5,000 soybean farmers int he Delmarva and other major soybean areas in the U.S. Some highlights of the survey: —17.5% of the soybean farmers responding said a member of the immediate family, a close relative or a neighbor had been killed or injured in a farm accident in the last two years. —9.5% of the respondents had an accident or injury causing a loss of time on their farm last year. 44.8% were machinery-related accidents, 22.4% were caused by falls, 6.9% were chemical related. —Only 40% have ever attended a safety meeting. —50.4% say the\ always wear gloves when mixing agrichemicals, but only 19.7% say they always wear goggles. Most (68%) store agrichemicals in a barn or farm shop rather than a special chemical storage building. —Nearly 80% have smoke detectors in their homes. COW, CALF and YOUNGSTOCK SUSPENDASTALLS Advanced open design virtually eliminates leg injuries common to cemented-m stalls Provides more cow comfort Makes stalls easier to bed and clean Ideal for replacements Available in 4 5' and 6' lengths VISIT on the farm —Nearly 80% have a fire ex tinguisher on their combine, but only 45% have a fire extinguisher in their barn. —Just 39% have the Poison Information Center phone number posted near their telephone. —49% wear seat belts in their cars and pickups “sometimes”; 46% said they never use seat belts. As the survey statistics indicate, part-time safety in any phase of the farm operation invites per sonal loss, and often tragedy. No loss compares with the farm accident which costs the life of a family member. Less tragic, but extremely serious, is loss of an arm or leg - or health. Common sense is basic, but safety specialists believe more caution is needed. Also, proper safety equipment. For example, when working with farm chemicals, farmers should wear gloves and gogeles. For best Dairy Refund Program LANCASTER Milk producers may have their second 50 cent CCC milk deductions refunded if their milk marketings for October and November 1983 are at least 8.4 percent less than the average of the marketings for October and COW MATS Comfeze' mats provide cow pasture comfort with any type of stall Non-skid surface eliminates slipping Protects against injuries Five sizes SELF LOCKING FEED THROUGHS Dual purpose units give you a control center for managing your herd Self-locking units permit group or individual release Ideal for health checks breeding or treatment Avail able (or mature cows or youngstock OUR DISPLAY resistance to chemicals, gloves should be made of natural rubber, and of medium to heavy weight. Gloves should extend up past the wrist so that they reach above sleeve cuffs. Do wear long sleeves. Goggles used for protection against agrichemicals or anhydrous ammonia have special air vents, hooded to help prevent liquids from entering. Goggles used for shopwork probably don’t have that added degree of safety, extension safety specialists say. The Du Pont survey clearly shows that farm families have made some positive strides in several areas, but much remains to be done to prevent farm ac cidents. How safety conscious are you? Take this 20 question quiz and see how you score. Then, set your 1984 goal to make it a safe year on your farm. November of 1981 and 1980. Ap plications should be made with the ASCS office by March 31,1984. Check stubs or monthly milk receipts are required as evidence of milk marketings. ,umane egu *to prt /atelncowcomfv