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 <ai
operator convenience, .o get the whole story of how
Humane can help you take better care of your herd,
write for our new catalog.
AT THE PENN FARM SHOW
1. I have attended a farm safety meeting in
last 12 months.
2. Our house has at least two smoke detectors.
3. All safety shields on implements and power
tools are in place and in good repair.
4. Everyone who operates a combine or other
heavy equipment stops regularly to take a 10-
minute break.
5. We have a fire extinguisher in the house.
6. We have a fire extinguisher in the bam.
7. We have a fire extinguisher on the combine.
8. Farm chemicals are stored in a separate,
locked building.
9. We wear
agrichemicals.
gloves when handling
10. We wear
agrichemicals.
11. My family and I wear seat belts when
driving the car or pickup.
12. I always wear long trousers mowing the
lawn.
13. I always wear safety footwear while mowing
the lawn.
14. I have my state’s Poison Information Center
telephone number posted by the telephone.
15. I always read the label before using a
chemical.
16. I am familiar with respirators and dust
masks and know when they should be worn.
17. I have a bump cap or protective headgear to
wear in the farm shop.
18. I avoid wearing loose clothing while working
around machinery or in the shop.
19. When working on the combine, I solidly
block or use safety stands on the header before
working underneath.
20. I check clearances, especially of over head
power lines.
How Did You Fare?
I’m safety conscious and well protected -18 to 20 “yes” answers,
I’m better than average but need to do more -15-17.
I’m average but just not up to snuff -12-14.
I could be in trouble -9-11.
I’m an accident waiting to happen - 9 and below
HUMANE EQUIPMENT CO
O Box 24. Baraboo, Wl 53913
Phone 608 356 8336
lease send f R( h r olut literature un the following
ITif Stalls
iC( mfort Stalls
it L'Vf'i Stalls
IAMf
DDRtSS
DWN
IP HI
20 Questions To Rate Your
Farm Safety Consciousness
goggles when mixing
Faster Riling, dependatte,
6ConoflllGtn.
Nose {Rate
or push
button
models
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ft ■
I I Suspend a Stalls i I Cow Mats
1 iSlam hion Stalls
i 'Calf Stalls
YES NO
0 % *
1 iPens
i 'Water Howls
I 1 Student
STATt