Each year a national campaign highlights efforts farmers and rural communities can take to be aware of the many hazards working in agriculture. Since 1944, the third week of September is dedicated to National Farm Safety and Health Week.
Beyond the hazards that are common for harvest season, additional conditions are adding up for the health and safety of the agricultural workforce.
Fire Safety is a Concern During Harvest Season
Widespread drought, dry, and windy conditions…. All of these factors are leading to fire safety concerns.
Couple the dry conditions with the reported shortage of volunteer fire fighters in rural areas, and this becomes a real concern for the rural community.
Another non-farm related concern for the farm fields relates to the actions of the general public. When persons throw out their cigarette butts into ditches and fields – or when persons burn trash or tree limbs from storm debris – there can be a risk for field fires.
During a drought, we all need to be aware of fire potential. This is a main reason Ohio is under a “burn ban.” Link: https://com.ohio.gov/about-us/media-center/news/state-fire-marshal-orders-ban-on-open-burning-for-certain-ohio-regions
If a fire breaks out, have an emergency plan:
Have an emergency plan in place and discuss it with the other workers or family members. Knowing what to do in the event of a fire emergency is important. Knowing the address to the field and how to contact fire departments directly instead of through the 911 system are important safety conversations for the entire harvest crew.
Call 911 or your local first responders at the first sign of a fire. Don’t wait for the fire to grow - rapid response is important to saving valuable equipment. Agricultural fires are often in remote locations where a specific address may not be available and access is limited. Emergency response time will be longer in these areas.
Have (2) ABC fire extinguishers mounted on the combine. A 10-pound ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher in the cab or near the ladder of the cab is quick access to protect the operator. A second extinguisher (20-pound ABC) is recommended to be mounted on the outside of combines where it is accessible from the ground. It’s possible that one unit will extinguish a small fire; having the second unit will help with any additional flare-ups. Perform annual fire extinguisher inspections at the beginning of the season to ensure the units are fully charged.
Have a water truck positioned by the field. In extreme dry conditions, a water truck may help protect against field fires. Hot mufflers and catalytic converters from farm vehicles driving in the field can pose a risk to the dry field fodder. Smoldering materials may go unnoticed until a small wind gust is enough to start a fire. Never use water on fires that are electrical or fuel-sourced.
Additional factsheets on fire extinguishers:
https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/aex-79025
Heat Stress may be a Concern During Harvest Season
This year is particularly hot! Outdoor workers are at risk of heat exhaustion and dehydration. When workers become overheated, their normal body functions are affected, including their mental functions. As body temperatures and heart rates increase, just a 2-degree Fahrenheit increase in the work environment can impair our thinking abilities, and a 5-degree Fahrenheit increase can result in serious illness or death.
Be able to recognize the early signs of heat stress in workers. These include irritable and irrational behavior, confusion, and slurred speech. Have the workers drink water and seek shade to cool their body temperature. Taking more frequent breaks throughout the day is another way to help the body restore its heart rate when the temperatures are high.
During this upcoming harvest season, farmers working without good ventilation, air-conditioned cabs, or wearing their PPE around grain bins are at an increased risk for heat illness, which can be an underlying cause for other types of injuries such as heart attacks and falls.
Links to Heat stress articles:
https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2024-19/beating-heat-...
https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/aex-591108
NIOSH heat stress publication:
https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/osha-niosh-heat-illness-infosheet.pdf
General Safety Tips during the Harvesting Season
Harvest season is a time when injuries are on the rise. Common injuries during fall harvest include slips, trips and falls, blunt trauma incidents, sprains and strains, entanglement in equipment; and engulfment in grain bins. Guidelines to reduce the risk of an injury during harvest includes:
Reducing Fatigue:
- To reduce fatigue, try to get enough sleep. This is your body’s time to rest.
- Set a pace for yourself, and plan out your day’s activities.
- Take short breaks throughout the day. Get out of the combine or truck for a few minutes, and do something to get away from the equipment and revitalize.
Equipment Safety:
- Follow the procedures in the operator’s manual of equipment for safe operation, maintenance, and trouble shooting
- Keep equipment properly maintained and check all guards are in position and correctly fitted before starting work.
- Insure equipment has adequate lighting for working in the dark. Increase caution when working in early morning or late evening when daylight is diminished.
- Maintain 3 points of contact when mounting or dismounting equipment.
(1 hand and 2 feet) or (2 hands and 1 foot)
- Ensure that hand holds or railings are in safe operating condition.
- Exercise caution when steps or walking surfaces are wet or dirty.
- Avoid jumping off of the last step and anticipate changes in ground elevation or rough terrain when dismounting from the last step.
- Be alert to you surroundings. Know where equipment is being positioned and be observant to individuals who may be walking around equipment.
- When working with others around equipment, maintain eye contact and communicate your intentions with the other person.
- Utilize safe travel routes between fields, and take into account potential problems with automobile traffic and narrow roadways. Use escort vehicles when needed.
Grain Handling Safety:
- Use Personal Protective Equipment when appropriate (safety glasses, gloves, etc..).
- Utilize respiratory protection such as an N95 respirator in dusty environments.
- Use hearing protection in work environments louder than 85 decibels for an extended period of time.
- Know where overhead power lines are so they can be avoided when moving equipment or using a portable auger.
- Insure there is adequate lighting at the grain storage facility when working in low light conditions to prevent slips, trips, and falls.
- Never enter a grain bin while grain-handling components, such as augers, are in operation. Lockout/tagout procedures should be developed for all equipment.
- If you must enter the bin use a body harness, lifeline and station a person at the entry point to monitor the person in the bin.
Harvest Safety tips:
Combine safety links: