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Farm Events: |
Farm News: Farm Safety - Sometimes Too Little Too LatecommentsPosted: 01.10.2011
Too often farmers put their lives at risk simply to get their work done faster.
“We must put safety ahead of the ‘get er dun’ attitude on our farms,” says Nolan Andersen, an agriculture agent for the University of Wisconsin-Cooperative Extension of Dane County. “Safety is an attitude, and we need to improve workplace safety for every employee and family member in the Wisconsin agricultural industry.”
To promote this new attitude and raise awareness of the benefits of providing a safe work environment on farms, UW-Extension and the Dane County Farm Bureau will host a free meeting Tuesday, January 25 at Rex’s Innkeeper in Waunakee, beginning at 9:45 a.m. with lunch served.
“You need to be proactive. You’re the only one that can make it happen on your farm. As a manager it starts with you,” said Andersen, who admits the concept of occupational safety on farms is still in its “infancy.”
Organizers hope the meeting’s content will explain what the management responsibilities are for farm owners, what resources are available to create a farm’s safety plan, and the unique circumstances posed when communicating with immigrant labor.
“Safety affects profitability,” said Cheryl Skjolaas from the University of Wisconsin’s Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, “in machinery repair, workers compensation costs and employee retention savings.”
Skjolaas cites a National Safety Council study that puts the cost of one workplace fatality at over $1.3 million. Wisconsin had 20 farm-related fatalities in 2009. She said that equals over $26 million in lost profitability, but is quick to note there’s no dollar amount that can be placed on the emotional toll a work-related death causes a farm family.
Pat O’Brien, dairy farmer and Dane County Farm Bureau Vice President said part of having a farm safety plan is letting employees know what to do and who to call in an emergency, and making sure hired help know the address of the farm they are on.
Aside from having more employees on individual farms, agriculture has also changed with the evolution of larger farm machinery and structures.
Skjolaas notes that Occupational Safety Hazard Administration (OSHA) rules that pertain to farms, like injury and illness reporting requirements, have been around for 40 years. Yet many farmers don’t think the regulations apply to them. While some requirements are only for farms with more than 10 employees, each part-time employee that works on a farm throughout the course of a year counts as one. Skjolaas hopes to have a clearer definition from OSHA on which family members are considered farm employees.
Mary Bauer, Compliance Assistance Specialist from OSHA’s Eau Claire regional office will be a presenter at the meeting. Other scheduled speakers include Captain Charles Lorentz of the Wisconsin State Patrol to discuss road safety, and Mitch Deprey from the Rural Mutual Insurance Company will discuss workers compensation insurance for farms.
RSVP by contacting Farm Bureau District Coordinator Becky Anding at 866.355.7342. The registration deadline is Friday, January 21. For more information, contact Pat O’Brien at 608.358.5964.
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