Agriculture is considered one of the most dangerous occupations in the world.
According to Holly Higgins, Kansas Farm Bureau director of farm safety and agricultural education, who spoke at the recent Women Managing the Farm Conference in Wichita, Kansas, agriculture is just as hazardous as coal mining, the only difference is coal miners do not bring their children to work with them.
The safety mission of the Kansas Farm Bureau is “to make members more aware of the potential dangers of agricultural life and to reduce or eliminate attitudes and/or behaviors which lead to accidents or an unhealthy lifestyle.”
“Awareness is the key to farm safety in how to prevent situations from happening and resolving situations from happening in the future,” Higgins said. “Remember to always shut the machinery off before working on it.”
“More than one-third of tractor fatalities involve young, extra riders ages one to 10,” Higgins explained. “One out of five farm accidents involves machinery, with the largest majority of accidents involving tractors, since a farmer spends the most amount of time using the tractor. Twenty percent of tractor accidents are when the tractor is stopped, but running.”
According to her, in 2009, there were 21 total farm-related fatalities in Kansas. Although, the numbers of farm-related accidents have decreased since 1980, “the number of accidents haven’t decreased that much,” she said. “The most accidents reported in one year in Kansas was 36,” Higgins explained.
Farm accidents are often detrimental to the family farming enterprise.
According to her, most families no longer operate their farm within five years of a fatal farm accident.
Awareness is most of the battle in farm safety, according to Higgins, and turning off the equipment before checking or fixing the problem.
Higgins provided concerns and tips for being first on the scene of an accident.
The first concern is getting professional help to the accident. The next concern is assuring the victim he or she is not in further danger. The last concern is providing patient care.
Once on the scene, and concerns are addressed, decisions will have to be made in order for proper care to be administered. First the scene of the accident will need to be stabilized, and then call 911. If no phone is available go to a neighbor’s house or wait for a passing vehicle. Return to the scene and be available to direct Emergency Medical Service (EMS) to the site or have someone who can direct EMS, as well as locate a First-Aid kit, if necessary. While waiting on EMS begin First-Aid to the victim if necessary.
Higgins also provided tips on how to properly report an accident, which include:
•Give location of the accident
•Phone number from which one is calling
•Nature of the accident
•Number of victims
•Condition of victims (bleeding, shock, etc.)
•Type of aid which has been given
•Whether someone will meet EMS at entrance to remote location
•Special condition which may hinder rescue
•Other information as necessary
“If first on the scene, make sure to turn off any running equipment, before administering aid, Higgins explained.
She also provided suggestions on emergency preparedness, which include: having emergency numbers posted by phones, directions to the farm posted by phones, have at least one person trained in CPR and First-Aid and developing an evacuation plan for house and farm.
“If we want to keep federal regulation off our farms we have to regulate ourselves,” she said. “Operators need to think about what the farm equipment is designed to do—there is never a happy ending if safety isn’t used around the equipment.”
“Accidents happen that fast, so it is important to have all safety equipment in place on the machinery before using it,” Higgins concluded.
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Holly Higgins
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