The Farm Safety Roundup is a new podcast series designed to promote health and safety culture to farmers, their families, and their workforce by advancing the conversation on prevention as a powerful tool. In this series, you’ll learn strategies to prevent illness and injury, as well as be connected to resources to keep workers safe.
Farming is a business that runs on Mother Nature’s clock — at seeding and planting, at calving, at spraying, haying or harvest, the weather and daylight hours often dictate what needs to be done in a day.
But that “crunch time” pressure can lead to injuries, whether from rushing, cutting corners on things we know we should do, or just flat out fatigue.
Agriculture has made strides towards building a culture of safety on the farm and throughout the value chain, but there is still room to grow. In this very first episode of the Farm Safety Roundup, hear host Shaun Haney in conversation with Fred Young, health and safety consultant with Workplace Safety & Prevention Services, where they talk about the pressures of harvest season and rural road safety in decreasing the likelihood of injuries (more below).
Health and safety doesn’t have to be complicated — and the lives of those you love depends on it! Small changes to daily routines can add up, says Young. Leading by example and fostering a culture of safety means that everyone on the farm, from employees, to family members, to custom operators, work by the example set.
Top tips for staying safe on the road:
- Make sure all warning flashers, flags, lights and slow-moving vehicle emblems are clean, visible and working (and are used!)
- Make it easy for drivers to see by using the equipment’s lights and flashers, especially in the early mornings and evenings
- Stay alert for soft shoulders, narrow bridges, ruts and overhead wires
- Check equipment to keep your load safe – check wheel bearings, safety chains, etc
- Use seatbelts in the tractor, double check hook ups, know the limits of the capacity
Stay safe on rural roads with these free resources:
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