Minnesota/Wisconsin Engineering Notes

November 2001 Low Cost Parlors For Wisconsin and Minnesota Dairy Producers Siting Animal Production Operations Sizing Silage Piles New Agricultural and Alternative Energy Web Page Use Winter to Make Your Farm Safer Increasing pH by Low Level Aeration to Remove Soluble Phosphorus in Liquid Swine Manure Farmland Tile Drainage Design Workshop New Agricultural Drainage Publications Available Two New Farm Business Management Publications Available New University of Minnesota Department Head Resources Calendar

Use Winter to Make Your Farm Safer Mark Purschwitz, Wisconsin Farm Safety and Health Specialist Once the stress of fall harvest is out of the way, you can use the time wisely to make your farm safer for you and your family, as well as for your employees. Now is the time to get started, because once the spring rush starts, it will be more difficult to do what is needed. One of the first things to do is to be sure all safety devices are in operating condition on machinery you put away for the winter, while harvest activities are still fresh in your mind. Find and fix any safety-related problems you may have noticed but did not take time to repair, such as a missing or broken shield, burned-out light bulb, troublesome switch, or faded SMV emblem. Do the same for other equipment which you might use this winter or next spring. Next year you may be in a hurry and not take the time to fix them. In addition, take care of any safety-related field problems, such as a hidden hole or washout. By next spring they may have slipped your mind again. A key task is to conduct an all-farm inspection. Inspecting machinery for safety problems is crucial, but you need to take a slow and observant walk around the entire farmstead. Make a deliberate effort to look at buildings and other structures. Check such things as wiring; the condition of steps, walkways, and ladders; gates and fences; and anything else that could cause an injury to you or someone else. Hazardous areas such as chemical storage buildings or manure storages should have warning signs as well as barriers to keep children and unauthorized people out. General housekeeping is important to prevent slips and falls, and sets the overall tone for a safe and orderly operation. Contact your county Extension office for Extension publications on conducting farm safety inspections. Think about emergency needs such as fire extinguishers or emergency phone numbers, and whether they are located for easy and rapid use. Everyone who lives or works on the farm should be instructed on where to call for help. Someone on the farm should be trained in basic first aid. Training of family members and employees can be conducted in the winter as well. You can obtain and read Extension safety publications, and many county Extension offices have or can obtain safety videos that you can borrow. Children can be involved in a family discussion of farm hazards and safe practices. There are many things you can do during winter to make your farm safer. Don’t wait until spring, when time is at a premium and everyone is in a hurry. Your safety, as well as that of your family and employees, is too important.

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