While agriculture seems like a harmless business to most, it is quite the opposite. Agriculture is actually a hazardous job around the world, resulting in numerous accidents and even death. According to Beefcentral.com, “Since 2001, 1523 people have lost their lives on a farm due to unintentional injury in Australia.”
While most of the accidents in farms revolve around machinery and equipment, there are other areas where we have to be careful as well. Whether you’re a farm expert with years of experience or someone just looking for a seasonal job, you must be cautious while working on a farm.
To keep the harm at bay, here are some tips you can follow to protect your workers and yourself on the farm.
Have a Emergency Plan
Sometimes the inevitable can happen and it’s better to have a plan prepared for events like. Most likely, you won’t need it – but if you do, you’ll be glad to have it.
Make sure everyone knows how to respond to your emergency plan. This saves you time and keeps you away from harm’s way.
Keep an Eye Out for Fatigue
Workers often are often seen pushing, even when they are tired and it can lead to some serious problems. While one is worn out, they are most likely to find an easy way to finnish the task – taking shortcuts, risking themself and people around them.
To prevent workers from getting worn out, promote short gaps between work hours. Encouraging workers to have a healthy diet and rest is another way of avoiding accidents.
Have Drills
The purpose of having drills is to prepare everyone on the farm to respond quickly during the time of an emergency. Drills play a crucial role in training workers and staff on the farm their responsibility if unforeseeable events occur.
You can also discuss the previous near miss incidents as a learning opportunity.
Promote the use of PPE gears
Nowadays with the use of advanced science and technologies, everything from seeds to harvest contains a lot of insecticides. Even a whiff from these chemicals can be hazardous to farm workers as they are the ones most involved.
To mitigate unforeseen risk, wearing a safety breathing apparatus is a must. Before handling the pesticides and insecticides, discuss the risks. Make PPE gears and masks mandatory on your farm.
Provide Proper Training Before Using Heavy Machineries
Most farm related accidents around the world revolve around machineries. Temp workers you hire might have the skills required to operate farm equipment and even the experienced workers may not be up-to-date with new technologies.
Giving a proper training will be helpful. You should also keep a habit of maintaining the equipment in mint condition.
Following these safety measures will help you mitigate future crises.