Having a safe farming operation is not as hard as it seems. It starts with a change of attitude — letting go of old traditions and habits. Considering how serious our work is, how seriously we should take the safety of our workers and family, and how seriously we need to take the impressions we […] Read more
Safety on your farm: it’s not hard
Building a safe farm operation may seem overwhelming; it’s just a change of attitude
Just how deadly is not knowing?
Make sure you know the emergency operating procedures for all of your machinery
Safety plans. Safety orientation. Training. Tail gate talks. SOPs (standard operating procedures). It is all so important in being a safe farm. A safe business. But how deadly is it really not knowing? In a word: very. Any number of things can go wrong, and quickly, in a farming operation. Especially “in season” when people […] Read more
Don’t skip the standard operating procedure
Not everyone is comfortable developing standard operating procedures. Get over it
Winter can be a great time for planning, and safety planning should be included. Many producers have done environmental farm plans and have done safety plans. The next piece of the complex farm safety puzzle is one that is often is in the “assumed” category. The dreaded SOP (standard operating procedure). Why dreaded? Because of […] Read more
Safety plans specific to your farm
Don't ignore the danger zones. Make your farm safety match the reality on your farm
Farming today is much different than it was in the past. The vast array of knowledge and access to information can be overwhelming. The temptation to use a template and do the “bare minimum” for a farm safety plan is great. There is also a temptation to skim the safety-related materials provided with chemicals, equipment […] Read more
Don’t be afraid to be safe
Farming is our legacy. But changing practices to farm safety is our future
Farm Safety week comes every March. If you’ve been reading Grainews regularly, you’ll know that I’ve been writing safety articles for this special feature for the past few years. Farming is part of my family. It has been for generations. We have some pieces of our history and our traditions we hold dear. Others must […] Read more
Biosecurity and visitors on the farm
Biosecurity is something we usually connect to livestock. These days grain farmers should be knowledgeable too
Anyone involved in animal agriculture is familiar with bio-security, especially in businesses involving confined livestock like birds (eggs and broilers) and swine. Beef and dairy have in the past few decades moved towards having stronger biosecurity measures in the face of FMD’s (foreign animal diseases) and increasing traceability for livestock movements. Farm visitors can be […] Read more
Look up and stay safe
Overhead power lines are some of the most common causes of farm accidents. Be prepared on your farm
Do you have overhead power lines and guy wires around your farm? Do you know how high they really are from the ground? Are you confident that your equipment is low enough to avoid contact when transporting? How about in the fields or along the roads you travel? Some of the most common accidents in […] Read more
Stuck!! How to pull them out safely
We’re sure nobody has ever been stuck on your farm. But, just in case, here’s how to handle it
You’ve all read the stories about how a seemingly simple tow job of a stuck piece of equipment turned into a tragic accident. You’ve heard it first hand from friends or families. You may have even been stuck yourself and had a close call. But have you examined what happened and considered finding safer ways? […] Read more
Spinning out with farm equipment
Winter is a time when trucks are often stuck on ice or packed snow. This is much different than being stuck in the mud and requires a bit of a change of perspective when it comes to getting them unstuck. Fast is slow — move slow, don’t lose more traction than you already have and […] Read more
Chemical safety on the farm
You use them so often they may not even seem to be all that dangerous anymore. But make sure you know just what you’re dealing with
Every year farmers and farm workers come in contact with a wide variety of chemicals. Often they’re used every season and farmers can become familiar with them, even a bit complacent about the dangers they pose. Each chemical will have an information sheet and information tag. All chemicals and medications have Material Safety Data Sheets […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
