:

Each year, over 500 tractor and machinery roadway crashes occur in Ohio, resulting in property damage, injuries, and deaths. It’s up to everyone to be extra vigilant as we share our rural roadways. Here are some helpful tips for farmers and motorists. 

Information for the Farmers: 

• Obey traffic laws, including signs, signals, and speed limits. 

• Ensure all tractors and equipment less than 25mph are equipped with a clean and unfaded Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) emblem that hasn’t faded and dust is removed before transport. 

• Move equipment legally using proper transport modes.  

• When possible, move equipment in off-peak hours or on low traffic routes. 

• Using escort vehicles in the front or back of the machinery can assist when in heavy traffic. 

• Use discretion when pulling to the side of the road to allow motorists to pass. 

• Obey traffic laws including signs, signals, and speed limits. 

• Slow down on turns and curves. 

• Hitch equipment properly to the drawbar or appropriate hitch points with the correct size pins. 

Information for the Motorists: 

• Be alert and look for flashing lights and Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) emblems on tractors and machinery. 

• Slow down as soon as you spot farm equipment. Think about closure time when coming up behind slow moving vehicles.  In less than 7 seconds, a motor vehicle traveling 55 mph will close 400 feet behind a tractor traveling 15 mph. 

• Do not speed past farm equipment. Only pass when it is legal and safe to do so. 

• It is often difficult for large equipment operators to see traffic coming from behind. 

• When meeting equipment (in either direction), watch for any obstructions like guardrails, mailboxes, and road signs that may prevent the machinery to move closer to the shoulder of the road. 

• If equipment has pulled over onto the shoulder, do not assume it will stay there; it may be making a wide left turn. 

• Do not stop or pull out in front of equipment with a Slow Moving Vehicle emblem. 

• When passing farm equipment, make sure you can see the lights on the left and right of the tractor before moving back into the lane of travel. 

Follow the laws, respect each other, and share the road safely this season. 

This article is provided by the OSU Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Team, https://agsafety.osu.edu/. Authored by Dee Jepsen, Professor,  jepsen.4@osu.edu, and Amy Rademaker, Outreach Coordinator, rademaker.3@osu.edu. Graphics provided by Madeline Walther, Agricultural Communications Student Intern.  

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:

https://agsafety.osu.edu/newsletter/ag-safety-stat/october-2018/injury-prevention/safety-during-harvest-season

Combine safety links:

https://agsafety.osu.edu/newsletter/ag-safety-stat/september-2019/safe-combine-operation-during-harvest

Dee Jepsen, Ag Safety & Health Specialist, can be reached at 614-292-6008 or jepsen.4@osu.edu.

This column is provided by the OSU Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Team. https://agsafety.osu.edu/.

By Wayne Dellinger, OSUE ANR Educator, Union County

Being aware of weather conditions is nothing new to farmers.  Weather is what dictates everything from when fieldwork can be done to how well crops yield.  Severe weather awareness is an old topic that sometimes needs a reminder.  Getting caught in the middle of a field when severe weather strikes is not the greatest of situations. 

Severe Weather Awareness Week in Ohio is March 17-23.  Mother nature has not looked at the calendar very well as we have had severe storms and tornados in recent days and weeks.  Many of us remember the devastation of the August 2020 and June 2023 derechos that impacted parts of the Midwest.  We also have seen pictures of the damage from the February 2024 tornados in central Ohio and the March 2024 tornados in several parts of Ohio. 

As the temperatures warm up and the fields dry, tractors will be operating in full force across the corn belt to get crops planted. With today’s agricultural equipment, every pass in the field may mean numerous levers, toggle switches, and buttons to pull and push.  These, in addition to GPS and other monitors in the cab, can keep the operator busy.

Keeping in Touch

Modern communication tools such as cell phones and portable weather radios provide more opportunity to avoid exposure to severe weather than ever before.  A simple call from the house may be all it takes to stay safe.  Monitoring weather on a radio can let the operator know well ahead of time what is coming.  In the spring severe weather season, conditions can change drastically during any given day.  What is heard on the 6:00 a.m. weather report may evolve throughout the day because storms have a local component.

With all the opportunity to know what weather is coming, there are still occasions when the operator is caught in severe weather.  This could be a pop-up thunderstorm, a flash flood, or even a tornado.  These chances increase for every extra round that is made trying to get as much work done before the rain comes.

If an operator is caught in severe weather, there are some actions that may be taken that will improve chances of escaping injury:

Lightning

Lightning may strike many miles away from the actual storm in which it was produced.  Blue-sky lightning strikes are known to occur.  When out in the middle of a field and caught in a lightning storm, the safest place is inside the tractor.  Raise all equipment out of the ground to avoid any metal-ground contact. 

Tornado

Watch the sky during severe weather for changes.  Often the sky will have a greenish appearance.  A cloud that looks like a wall and has rotation is an indication of the possibility of a tornado.  With soundproof cabs and loud machinery, it is not likely you will hear a tornado until it is too late. 

If caught in an open area with a tornado approaching, get out of the tractor!  Find a low area or ditch away from the tractor, lie down and cover head with arms.

Unfortunately for agriculture, there are many structures that are easily damaged in tornados or straight-line winds.  Grain bins and large machinery sheds are vulnerable to collapse and should not be used as shelters.  Farms are also conducive to a great deal of flying debris whether it is hand tools, liquid storage tanks, or even calf hutches.  Below ground-level rooms offer the best protection.  Interior rooms of a sturdy structure are the best alternative.

Floods

Flooding, and more specifically, flash flooding may happen in a very short period of time.  Most operators are aware of what areas have a history of flooding or are susceptible to flash flooding.  These areas should be avoided in severe weather events.  Similar to stray lightning, flooding may occur even in areas that have received no rain if there was a large rainfall event upstream.        

A Watch or a Warning

Remember: A Watch indicates conditions are favorable for the development of severe weather. A Warning indicates a tornado or severe thunderstorm is in the immediate vicinity – take appropriate actions.

Don’t get caught in severe weather this spring and summer.  Keep a portable weather radio nearby or have a plan to be alerted by someone who does.  Monitor weather conditions in your area. 

Photo caption:

Tornado damage to farm in Mercer County, Ohio, November 2017.  Credit: Mercer County Sheriff’s Office.

My husband, who works in the computer profession, has a shirt that states, “Hope is Not a Strategy.” While this may be true in his line of work or many others, I dare say hope IS at least a partial strategy in many areas of life. Take agriculture for instance. Producers try to be proactive to ensure a healthy robust harvest. Some steps might include installation of field tile; maintenance and upkeep of equipment; purchase of seeds, fertilizer, pesticides, and other necessary chemicals; maintenance of buildings, barns, and overall property; purchase and use of PPE (personal protective equipment); assessment and care of livestock; and the list goes on.

No matter how many steps are taken or how prepared producers try to be, mother nature does not always cooperate. So, after the preparation is done, most producers HOPE this year will yield a bountiful harvest. As we all know, that’s not always the case. Whether spring is too wet to get the crops in the ground; the growing season is too wet, too dry, or too hot; storm or flood damage; a rainy fall that delays harvest; some pest or disease attacks the crops or livestock; or low commodity prices and/or high costs; producers rely on HOPE to get through and keep going.

While HOPE is a strategy for the physical aspects of agriculture, it is also great for the mental aspects. This time of year can be more difficult for people, especially those who have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or it’s milder form Winter Depression. Most people develop symptoms in late fall or early winter that persist until late spring or summer. Symptoms may include:

• Feeling listless, sad, or down most of the day, nearly every day
• Losing interest in activities you enjoyed
• Having low energy and feeling sluggish
• Sleeping too much
• Experiencing carbohydrate cravings, overeating and weight gain
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feeling hopeless, worthless, or guilty
• Having thoughts of not wanting to live

Spring and Summer SAD (SAD can occur ANY time of year) symptoms include:

• Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• Poor appetite
• Weight loss
• Agitation or anxiety
• Increased irritability

Even those who don’t have these symptoms may struggle at times, and HOPE can be a strategy. You can help folks who may be struggling to remember there is HOPE! There are people (mental health professionals) who can and want to help. There are things people can do for themselves to help manage and/or alleviate symptoms. There are people who love and care about them and seeking help is in NO WAY a sign of weakness.

Some self-care tips to maintain good mental health include:

• Get regular exercise.
• Eat healthy, regular meals and stay hydrated.
• Make sleep a priority.
• Try a relaxing activity.
• Set goals and priorities.
• Practice gratitude.
• Focus on positivity.
• Stay connected to friends and family.

If you or someone you know or love has thoughts of suicide, please call the suicide and crisis hotline at 988 to be connected immediately to a mental health professional. There is HOPE.

Author: Misty Harmon, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County, harmon.416@osu.edu

Reviewer: Dee Jepsen, State Specialist in Agricultural Safety and Health, Ohio State University Extension, jepsen.4@osu.edu

Resources

Britton, B. (2022, September 1). Making the switch to 988! Live Healthy Live Well. Retrieved January 26, 2023, from https://livehealthyosu.com/2022/09/05/making-the-switch-to-988/

Deal better with Hard Times. Mental Health America. (n.d.). Retrieved January 25, 2023, from https://mhanational.org/deal-better-hard-times

Harmon, M. (2021, February 19). The little things really are the big things. Live Healthy Live Well. Retrieved January 25, 2023, from https://livehealthyosu.com/2021/02/18/the-little-things-really-are-the-b...

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2021, December 14). Seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disord...

Rural Health Information Hub. Rural Agricultural Health and Safety Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2023, from https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/agricultural-health-and-safety

Teagasc. (n.d.). Disease prevention. Teagasc. Retrieved January 25, 2023, from https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/amr/disease-prevention/

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Caring for your mental health. National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved January 25, 2023, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health

Lisa Pfeifer – OSU Ag Safety and Health Education Coordinator

Fire extinguishers can often be the difference in saving a life, piece of machinery, or a structure. Take inventory of the number of fire extinguishers and the location on your farm property. If you come up empty, it is time to do something about the safety of your property. Consider placing extinguishers in the shop, barns, equipment cabs and on the baler. When properly maintained and used correctly the safety equipment may be able extinguish a small fire or contain it until help arrives. The farm environment has no shortage of combustible materials and accelerants that can lead to a fire. You might encounter bedding, grain dust, cobwebs, fuels, and chemicals while working on the farm, each of which can contribute to a fire under certain conditions. Good housekeeping practices can eliminate much of the dust accumulation that can fuel fires, so be mindful of the condition in barns and shop spaces.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimated 326 deadly barn fires occurred during 2013-2017.

Take the time and steps to establish fire prevention practices on your farm operation. Start by installing fire extinguishers. For more help deciding what type of fire extinguisher to purchase and how to properly operate the device, take a look at some of the resources listed below.

An Ohio State University Extension fact sheet on fire extinguishers is located on Ohioline at https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/aex-79025.

Find information on “Choosing and using fire extinguishers” at the U.S. Fire Administration webpage, https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/extinguishers.html. There you will find:

• The types of fire extinguishers explained
• A checklist for knowing when to use one
• Instructions for use
• Maintenance recommendations

The National Fire Protection Association has a list of fire extinguisher safety tips on their public education webpage at https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Fire-and-life-safety-equipment/Fire-extinguishers.

Make your farm a safer place by installing fire extinguishers and training employees how to properly use them.

For more information about OSU Ag Safety, visit https://agsafety.osu.edu/ or contact Lisa Pfeifer, OSU Agricultural Safety & Health, at pfeifer.6@osu.edu or 614-292-9455

Dee Jepsen – Agricultural State Safety and Health Leader

Safety is important year-round – giving gifts of safety is a thoughtful idea to show you care. Here are a few safety and health gift ideas to show your family, friends and employees how much you value them.

Stocking stuffers include new work gloves, ear plugs or muffs, flashlights and smoke detectors with new batteries.

Another popular gift is a fire extinguisher - there are many sizes available to suit the needs for the home, garage, RV, or farm implement. For the vehicles, consider a small first aid kit, emergency kit, or long handled snow brush.

Don’t forget the helmets! With so many activities requiring helmets, it’s good to replace older style helmets. Motorized helmets (for motorcycles, dirt bikes and ATVs) should be replaced every 3-5 years, unless they have been involved in a crash or had a significant impact from being dropped or rolled off of a moving vehicle, in which case they should be replaced immediately. Welding helmets and gloves make great additions to the farm shop. Then there are helmets for the equestrians and bicyclists – many times the straps on older helmets become frayed and loosened – and are recommended to be replaced once they are stretched and worn out. Helmets come in a variety of styles and sizes – it is not possible for everyone to share a helmet. Be sure head gear is fitted properly for the best protection.

On the farm, other great gifts include a fall protection harness when climbing grain bins or working from heights greater than 6 feet. Retrofitting a tractor with a Rollover Protection Structure (ROPS) is an affordable option for keeping an older model tractor operational and safe for the operator – check with a local dealer for a retrofit suitable to your model.

Prepare for safety and have a happy holiday season!

For more information about the OSU Agricultural Safety and Health Program visit https://agsafety.osu.edu/ for contact Dee Jepsen at Jepsen.4@osu.edu or 614-292-6008.

Kent McGuire – CFAES Safety and Health Coordinator

It’s that time of year…Winter! Long exposure to cold, wet, and windy conditions can be dangerous even at temperatures above freezing. For outdoor workers it may be tempting to “tough it out” or “work through it”.  Prolonged exposure to winter conditions can be dangerous and precautions should be taken to minimize the risk injuries like frostbite or hypothermia. Clothing should be your first consideration when working in cold weather. Clothing should be selected to suit the temperature, weather conditions (e.g., wind speed, rain), the level and duration of activity. The following are recommendations from the National Weather Service for working in cold environments:

For more information visit https://agsafety.osu.edu/ or contact Kent McGuire, CFAES Safety and Health Coordinator, at mcguire.225@osu.edu or 614-292-0588.

Rachel Jarman – Ohio AgrAbility, Rural Rehabilitation Coordinator

Have you ever seen a person using a lift to get in and out of their vehicle at the local grocery store? Did you know that similar equipment is available for the ag industry? Farmers and other equipment operators can now return to the seat of their tractor or combine with the assistance of hydraulic driven lift mounted to their tractor, combine or other piece of equipment. These lifts can provide a safe alternative for farmers who have back injuries, arthritis, artificial hip, knee replacement or other circumstances that otherwise prevent them from climbing in to the seat of their machine. These lifts can be mounted directly to the tractor or combine with a platform that the person is able to step on. The cost of the lift depends on type purchased and how much fabrication goes into mounting it to the desired vehicle or piece of equipment. A lift company is linked in this article. Ohio AgrAbility and OSU Ag Safety do not receive any benefit from the links, and do not endorse any particular product or retailer.

Life Essentials Lifts: https://www.lifeessentialslifts.com/agriculture-lawn-mower-lift-mobility-equipment/

Lisa Pfeifer – OSU Ag Safety and Health Education Coordinator

Protect yourself, employees, and family members by wearing the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Find out more in our fact sheets on how to protect against dust and mold at https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/aex-79010, or respiratory diseases at https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/aex-591105. Put a box of N-95s in the farm truck and shop so PPE is accessible when needed.

Please visit https://agsafety.osu.edu/ for information about the OSU Ag Safety and Health Program or contact Lisa Pfeifer, at pfeifer.6@osu.edu or 614-292-9455.

Laura Akgerman, Disability Services Coordinator, Ohio AgrAbility Project

The Ohio AgrAbility Program’s dual missions of education and assistance to farmers with disabilities were on display at the 2019 Farm Science Review September 17 - 19. Staff, farmers and vendors were on hand to answer questions, greet visitors, demonstrate assistive technology and equipment, and talk about Ohio AgrAbility.

OAP featured a new exhibit area in 2019 – Ohio AgrAbility: A Focus on Livestock, with adapted equipment and information posters detailing how modifications and Assistive Technology can help famers with and without disabilities farm safely. The equipment featured included an automated door from Propel Sliding  Door Automation which  opens and closes heavy and cumbersome doors with no effort, and no need to leave the vehicle. The doors can be installed on existing sliding doors, and the doors lock when closed. This benefits a farmer who has limited or no mobility, or difficulty climbing in and out of their vehicle to operate a door.

The PWR EZ systems power fold auger can be operated from the operator’s seat, and eliminates the need to climb onto the combine and into the grain bin to fold the fountain auger up or down. This increases safety for anyone operating the combine, and allows a farmer who cannot climb onto the combine to move the auger to continue working safely and independently.

The vendors displayed and demonstrated their products, answered questions, and worked with staff and farmers to problem solve issues that may limit the farmers productivity or ability to safely use and access their equipment and facilities.

For more information, please contact Laura Akgerman, Ohio AgrAbility and OSU Extension Disability Services Coordinator, at Akgerman.4@osu.edu, or 614-292-0622.

Dee Jepsen – State Agricultural Safety & Health Leader

October and November are two months in the fall where open burning is a fire concern for Ohio residents. It’s a good idea to know the type of fire permitted for your area.

The Ohio EPA determines the types of fires that are restricted inside and outside of a village or city. For the most part, open burning of residential and land-clearing wastes are not permitted within city limits. Restrictions do not apply to barbeques, campfires, cookouts, and bonfires (with wood stacks no larger than 2ft. high X 3ft. wide) – these types of fires are permitted.

Agricultural products, such as wastes and plant matter from tree trimmings, stumps, brush, weeds, leaves, grass, shrubbery and materials from crop or livestock production, are permitted to be burned with restrictions. Likewise burning of fence posts and scrap lumber (but not from buildings or land clearing waste) are also permitted. All open fires must be more than 1,000 feet from a neighbor’s home or inhabited building. 

Wastes that are never permitted to be burned include: garbage, dead animals, and products containing rubber, grease and asphalt. Fires cannot be near, or block vision of, roadways, railroads or airfields.

The months of October and November carry open burn restrictions. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, fires can become out of control due to windy and dry conditions. Because of these conditions, open burning is not permitted in rural areas from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. During the ban, fires must be in a plowed field with a 200 feet distance of woodlands or brush.

With any fire, small particulates are suspended in the smoke that could lead to health disorders. Open fire burning has been linked to asthma and respiratory illnesses. Household wastes contain various chemicals and these toxins can emit high levels of sulfur dioxide, lead and mercury. Airborne pollutants can lead to more severe health conditions such as nervous system damage, kidney and liver damage, and reproductive disorders.

For additional questions about Ohio’s open burning regulations, contact the Ohio EPA Division of Air Pollution Control at (614) 644-2270. Local EPA districts are also available to answer questions. Their website contains a complete list of agencies available in the state, http://epa.ohio.gov/dapc/general/openburning. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources website is http://forestry.ohiodnr.gov/burninglaws.

For more information about other Ag Safety topics visit https://agsafety.osu.edu or contact Dee Jepsen at jepsen.4@osu.edu or 614-292-6008.

Rachel Jarman – Ohio AgrAbility, Rural Rehabilitation Coordinator:

Using cameras to monitor equipment function has grown in popularity as well as affordability in recent years. Have you ever thought about how those cameras can do more than help you place every last kernel of corn in the semi from the grain cart? AgrAbility has assisted numerous clients who once suffered from back and neck pain, relieve strain by using cameras to provide additional views of equipment running. Imagine how you would feel if you did not have to turn to look how the tillage tool was pulling after every turn. A small monitor mounted in the cab accompanied by 1 or more cameras, depending on desired views, could save your back and neck from all the strain of twisting to check implements. There are many options for vendors of such cameras, including online and brick and mortar dealer sources. Cost of the camera systems vary due to options chosen, but prices have decreased making this more affordable to any size of operation. Different cameras and monitors are linked in this article. Ohio AgrAbility and OSU Ag Safety do not receive any benefit from the links, and do not endorse any particular product or retailer.

Camera Source: https://camera-source.com/agriculture-cams.html

Rosco: https://www.roscovision.com/industry-solutions/agriculture-market

For more information about this and other assistive technologies or Ohio AgrAbility visit https://agrability.osu.edu.

Kent McGuire – OSU CFAES Safety and Health Coordinator:

As we head into fall and look forward to harvest season, consider safety as part of your harvest planning process. It takes multiple pieces of equipment working simultaneously to have an efficient harvest season and no piece of equipment is more important than the combine.  It is important to keep safety in the forefront when operating or working around the combine and combine safety starts with the operator.  Combine operators should consider these guidelines during harvest:

For more information about the OSU Ag Safety visit https://agsafety.osu.edu/ or contact Kent McGuire, at mcguire.225@osu.edu or 614-292-0588.

Joseph Maiorano, PhD, Family and Consumer Sciences, OSU Extension, Harrison County 

Farming, as life, is neither easy nor predictable, and it does not ask our permission. We make mistakes, others treat us unfairly, and conditions don’t cooperate. When these adversities knock us from our groove, we may respond by raging, at ourselves, others, or conditions. Such reactions rob us, members of our family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers of a creative, fulfilling, and tranquil existence.

Based on his research, psychoanalyst Albert Ellis (1997, 2016) reminds us that people and events do not upset us. Rather, we upset ourselves by what we think, or believe, about those people and events. When we are upset, we may react with aggression, depression, anxiety, and/or feelings of worthlessness. If we change our thinking, or beliefs, about people and events, we may reduce our negative emotions, and respond more appropriately.

Irrational Thinking

When an unexpected event occurs, we choose to think rationally or irrationally about that event. Irrational thinking lacks logic and sound judgement. For example, after returning from a trip to purchase a fitting for your tractor, you realize that you bought the wrong part. If you react by insisting that you are stupid or demand that this mistake should not have happened, then you are thinking irrationally. You made a mistake, but you are not stupid, and what should not have happened did happen. Irrational statements may include terms, such as, awful, terrible, always, never, must/n’t), should/n’t). Irrational thinking will hijack your brain, allowing only negative emotions. In the example above, you might react with anger at yourself.

Rational Thinking

Different thinking about your mistake: After realizing that you made a mistake, it would be rational, or reasonable, to think, I prefer that I had bought the correct part. I am disappointed at my mistake. I feel frustrated at this inconvenience. Rational statements liberate your brain to devise solutions. Let’s take a test drive: Imagine arriving home after a thirty-mile round trip to the dealer and realizing the fitting doesn’t fit. Say aloud the rational statements (above). How's your pulse?, respiration?, muscle tension? Might rational thinking be for you?

Work and Practice

If you have long been an irrational thinker, then you may have to work at thinking differently. Yet, because you, me, others, and conditions are prone to thwarting goals, you will have plenty of practice. When you feel upset, substitute rational for irrational statements, devise and try solutions, then savor some tranquility.

Joseph Maiorano, FCS Educator Harrison County can be reached at 740-942-8823 or maiorano.2@osu.edu. Joseph works for Ohio State University Extension, Harrison County. Joseph and his wife, Mary, live in Steubenville, Ohio. They have four sons, including two who live at home.This article is a part of The Thriving Farmer series authored by Joseph. The Thriving Farmer—information to help farmers and their families make healthful choices. This column is provided by the OSU Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Team, https://agsafety.osu.edu/.

Soures

Ellis, A.; Harper, R. (1997). A guide to rational living. 3^rd Ed. Chatsworth, CA: Wilshire Book Company.

Ellis, A. (2016). How to stubbornly refuse to make yourself miserable about anything, yes anything! New York, NY: Citadel Press.

Photo 

KlausHausmann. Downloaded on November 30, 2021, from, https://pixabay.com/illustrations/rage-angry-explosion-head-explode-2317...

Joseph Maiorano, OSU Extension, FCS Educator Harrison County

Lunch: The Fuel You’ll Need

Farmer, you work hard. During a 10-15-hour workday, you will burn between 2,500 and 6,750 calories (captaincalclulator.com, nd)! Before leaving for work, you may eat a nutritious breakfast, yet few farmers consume enough breakfast calories to fuel them for the day. In other words, you will need additional energy to fuel you through the afternoon and into the early evening.

One size does not fit all

Some farmers may go home for lunch, others leave home with a packed lunch, and some may have a loved one deliver their lunch. Also, some farmers stop working to eat lunch, but others may continue working while they eat lunch. So, lunch happens, yet what are some healthful lunches to fuel a hardworking farmer (Six healthy...ideas, 2019)?

Soups

Homemade soup, comprised of protein, vegetables, and legumes, can be nutritious. If you make a big pot-o-soup, then you could freeze, or pressure can, individual portions. Packing soup in an insulated or vacuum sealed container can help soup to stay hot or cold. A hot soup may not be a one-handed work-through-lunch option, but it could help warm up a wintry afternoon. 

Sandwiches 

By varying combinations of proteins, dairy, condiments, vegetables, and breads, sandwiches offer endless possibilities. Moreover, sandwiches made with whole grain bread may help lower your risks of health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers (Whole grains, 2020).

Salads

Salads, as sandwiches, have limitless combinations. A salad, made with fruit, cruciferous vegetables, dairy, protein, and whole grains, can be a hearty one-container lunch with plenty of fuel for a busy afternoon.

Leftovers, Planned Overs, and Make Aheads

Sometimes after dinner, you might have leftovers, which can be packed for next-day's lunch or frozen for another day. Similarly, planned overs, or intentionally making more food than one plans to serve for a meal, are set asides for lunches. A make-ahead is preparing and storing specific food for future use. For example, you might spend Saturday morning packing lunches for the upcoming week.

Farming is demanding work, so farmers burn many calories. Eating healthful lunches is one way to help you get the fuel you’ll need to be at your best.

Joseph Maiorano, FCS Educator Harrison County can be reached at 740-942-8823 or maiorano.2@osu.edu. This column is provided by the OSU Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Team, https://agsafety.osu.edu/.

Sources

Captaincalculator.com. (nd). Downloaded on October 27, 2021, from, https://captaincalculator.com/health/calorie/farming/#:~:text=The%20average%20person%20burns%20250,350%2D450%20calories%20per%20hour.

Six healthy and delicious lunch ideas. (January 23, 2019). Gina Abernathy. Downloaded on October 27, 2021, from, https://homeatcedarspringsfarm.com/6-ideas-for-packing-healthy-and-delicious-lunches-for-work/.

Whole grains: Hearty options for a healthy diet. (August 20, 2020). Downloaded on October 29, 2021, from, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/whole-grains/art-20047826.

Dee Jepsen, Extension State Safety Leader and Wayne Dellinger, ANR Educator Union County

Autumn weather conditions have led to an increase in combine fires. Two recommendations to prevent injuries and property damage include: preventative maintenance and pre-planning for fire emergencies. 

Ohio ranks fourth in the nation for combine fires. Other states leading the list include Minnesota (1^st), Iowa (2^nd), Illinois (3^rd), Kansas (5^th), Nebraska (6^th) and South Dakota (7^th). 

The majority of harvester fires start in the engine compartment. Contributing factors for heat sources include faulty wiring, over-heated bearings, leaking fuel or hydraulic oil. The dry crop residue makes a ready source for rapid combustion to occur when the machine is operated in the field. Birds and wildlife are known to make nests in the engine compartment or exhaust manifolds – which can add fuel sources for unsuspecting combine operators.

TIPS TO PREVENT COMBINE FIRES INCLUDE:

• Have a daily maintenance plan during the harvest period. Keeping machinery well maintained plays a large role in preventing fires from these sources. Cleaning up spills, blowing off chaff, leaves, and other plant materials on a regular basis, proper lubrication of bearings/chains, and checking electrical connections should be part of the daily routine. Farmers may choose to do their daily maintenance in the morning while waiting for the dew to burn off the crops. However, performing maintenance at night will highlight any hot-spots or smoldering areas as the machine is cooling down. Removing chaff at the end of the day will reduce the amount of debris available to spark a fire.
• Eliminate static electricity. A chain may also be mounted on the bottom of the machine to drag on the ground while in the field. This decreases the buildup of static electricity.

IF A FIRE BREAKS OUT, IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN IN PLACE:

• Call 911 or your local first responders at the first sign of a fire. Don’t wait to know if you can contain a fire yourself, rapid response is important to saving valuable equipment. Combine fires are often in remote locations where a specific address may not be available and access is limited. Emergency response times will be longer in these situations.
• 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. Don’t forget to check that the extinguishers are fully charged at the beginning of the season. Not having extinguishers ready when needed leads to a helpless feeling of watching one of your most expensive pieces of equipment go up in flames.
• Have a water truck positioned by the field. Hot mufflers and catalytic converters from other vehicles driving in the field can pose a risk to the dry field fodder. Smoldering materials may go by 15 to 30 minutes before being noticed. A small gust of wind could rapidly turn that smoldering into a fire. In extreme dry conditions, a water truck may help protect against field fires. Never use water on fires that are electrical or fuel-sourced.  
• 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.

Don’t get caught thinking it can never happen on your farm.  Take preventative action and be prepared.

Dee Jepsen, Extension State Safety Leader, can be reached at 614-292-6008 or jepsen.4@osu.edu. Wayne Dellinger, ANR Educator Union County, can be reached at 937-644-8117 or dellinger.6@osu.edu.

The above article is a cross-posting originally released in the Crop Observation and Recommendation Network Newsletter.

Mary Ann Rose, Ohio State University Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program

The beginning and end of the growing season are good times to assess your pesticide storage. It’s wise to view your pesticide storage from a risk perspective – risks to workers and pesticide applicators, other people, and the environment.  Let’s start with people who have no business being in your pesticide storage area!  Accidental poisonings to children and intentional tampering come to mind.  Keeping your pesticide storage area or cabinet securely locked is the first and most important step to prevent potentially disastrous or even tragic occurrences.  Posting “No Smoking” and “Pesticide Storage – Keep Out!” are also important to prevent harm to unauthorized users.  

Protecting farm workers. While in some cases a small farm pesticide storage shed may not be marked on the outside to prevent it from becoming an “attractive nuisance,” this would not be appropriate on a farm with workers who need to know where hazardous materials are stored. Furthermore, workers have a legal right to access Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all hazardous materials in the workplace, pesticides being just one kind of hazardous substance.  In addition to having SDS sheets available, post the emergency contact numbers for poison control and the nearest emergency medical facility near your storage area.  

Protecting pesticide applicators.  Next look at your pesticide storage from the perspective of workers and pesticide applicators who use the pesticide storage area.  Are the containers intact, and are the pesticide labels securely attached to the containers?  Or do you see leaking containers, torn bags, and illegible labels? These problems present multiple hazards including unacceptable exposure to pesticides, cross contamination of pesticides, and the potential for misuse.  Keep your dry pesticides away from moisture, and above or away from the liquid materials. If your pesticide containers are leaking, transfer the pesticide to a cleaned, recycled pesticide container or other appropriate container.  NEVER use a food container such as a drink bottle for pesticide storage.  This is illegal, and sadly, has resulted in fatalities.  Make sure the pesticide label is firmly attached to the container, if necessary, print a new one and re-attach. 

Good lighting and ventilation in the storage area contribute to safety of those who use the facility.  Where the personal protective equipment (PPE) is stored is another important consideration.  Keep your PPE in a separate area from the chemical storage to prevent contamination of the PPE before you even wear it!

Protecting the environment. Potential environment contamination is the third perspective to consider.  Are you keeping old pesticides around that you will never use, or stockpiling uncleaned containers?  Are you prepared for a fire with a fire extinguisher or a spill with a spill kit?  For spill readiness, always have these items available: absorbent material, PPE to protect yourself,  and materials to sweep up and dispose of the waste.  

Ohio Pesticide law requires any drains to be plugged in areas where pesticides are stored in bulk, and furthermore it is a best practice for any pesticide storage area.  Bulk pesticide means pesticide stored in a single container with a capacity greater than 100 lbs. (dry) or 55 gallons (liquid). There are additional regulations for non-mobile bulk pesticide storage. 

What about waste pesticides?  Never pour pesticides down any kind of drain, this is illegal. Burning pesticide waste or containers also is illegal in Ohio.  The best way to dispose of unneeded farm pesticides is to take them to one of the Ohio Department of Agricultures “Clean Sweep” events held in July or August each year.  For pesticide containers, follow the pesticide label for disposal.  Also, consider using the free Ag Container Recycling Council program to recycle your properly rinsed agricultural pesticide containers - www.gpsagrecycle.com. 

This fall, take a close look at your pesticide storage area.  Resolve now to put safety first!

Contact the Pesticide Safety Education Program with your pesticide safety questions: pested@osu.edu / 614-292-4070. This column is provided by the OSU Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Team, agsafety.osu.edu.

Weather forecasts with low temperatures in single digits and wind chills well below zero should be indicators to think about our outside work routines.  It is interesting to note that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) documents that there are more deaths in the United States due to cold weather exposure (hypothermia) than hot weather exposure (hyperthermia) each year.  The CDC has also tracked an average of 1,300 deaths per year in the US due to excessive cold or hypothermia. 

Many jobs are affected little by the change in temperature outside, but others do not have that luxury.  Occupations such as agriculture (and others) work outside a great deal no matter what the conditions.  Helpful reminders are often beneficial to keep safe while accomplishing these tasks.

Everyone responds to cold weather and temperature extremes in general very differently.  It is what we are “used to” and what we can “tolerate”.  What Alaskans think of as cold in January may be quite different than what we perceive as cold in the lower 48.  Specific contributing factors may also affect a person’s susceptibility to cold temperatures such as getting wet, exhaustion, high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, diabetes, and general poor physical condition.

General good practices for working in cold weather include:

• Planning routine maintenance on outdoor equipment for warmer seasons.
• Let others know where you will be working and when you will return.
• Dressing in layers so clothing may be added or taken off in specific instances.
• Keeping dry.  Keep extra dry clothes, gloves, and shoes/boots nearby.
• Protecting ears, face, hands, feet, and head.  Extremities away from the body core have less blood flow and are more difficult to keep warm.
• Taking breaks in warm locations. 
• Staying hydrated.  Not often thought of as an issue in cold weather, but just as important.

In some cases, cold-related illness and injuries will occur.  It is important to know the symptoms so you can watch yourself and others for signs.

Hypothermia:

• Body loses heat faster than it can be produced.
• Symptoms are shivering, fatigue, confusion, disorientation.
• Can be mild to severe depending on symptoms.

Frostbite:

• Actual freezing of tissue.
• Symptoms are numbness, stinging, or pain and top layer of skin feeling hard and rubbery.
• Wear appropriate clothing and seek medical attention if symptoms remain after 30 minutes.

Trench foot:

• Feet lose heat due to cold or wetness too long and tissue becomes damaged.
• Symptoms include swelling and pain in the feet.  Differs from frostbite in that the skin does not actually freeze.
• Keep feet warm and dry.

Cold weather injuries are preventable.  Take the time to make the necessary plans for yourself and your workers to stay warm and dry and safely get the job done.

Wayne Dellinger, ANR Educator Union County, can be reached at 937-644-8117 ex. 3024 or dellinger.6@osu.edu. This column is provided by the OSU Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Team. https://agsafety.osu.edu/.

Bridget Britton, Behavioral Health Field Specialist ANR

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and with that comes the opportunity to raise awareness to help prevent even one more suicide from happening. When you live where you work the stress often never leaves a person’s mind. Unfortunately, people become overwhelmed to a point where they feel there is no other option beside suicide. For that exact reason it is important to talk about suicide, and how can we support those going through a mental health challenge in effort to prevent a future suicide. 

How is this affecting our community?

• The agricultural community is 1.5 times more likely to die by suicide than any other population in the United States according to a CDC study published in 2017. Suicides are up by over 40% in the last 20 years according to this same study. Farmers and foresters experience unique stressors, whether related to health insurance, market prices, weather, or legal issues it all compounds impacting the mental and physical health of our ag community.
• We all struggle to talk about suicide and mental health. Though the conversations are happening they are still quiet. The stigma or fear of admitting a person needs support is still very real. Bringing this conversation out to the light allows for more open discussion. 

What can be done to help support?

• Many local communities will come together for rallies, walks, or speaking events this month. Check with your local mental health and recovery board to see what may be going on in your area. Seek out education on how to support others that may be walking through challenging times. Trainings are available to help spot warning signs and symptoms of potential mental health challenges or crises. These trainings do not make you a licensed professional, but they do provide tools to support family, friends, or strangers going through a difficult time and may help prevent suicide.
  • Mental Health First Aid
  • QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer)
  • Trauma Informed Care

All trainings are offered through OSU Extension. The next Mental Health First Aid will be offered virtually through Extension on October 1^st. Contact Bridget Britton, britton.191@osu.edu, for more information or to register for any of these trainings. The farm stress team has developed a website with more information and resources on the topics of mental health and farm stress for our ag community at u.osu.edu/farmstress/resources. Visit and subscribe to the blog page for the most up to date information.

Bridget Britton, Behavioral Health Field Specialist ANR, can be reached at 330-365-8160 or britton.191@osu.edu. This column is provided by the OSU Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Team. agsafety.osu.edu.

Gigi Neal, ANR Educator Clermont County and Dee Jepsen, Professor and State Agricultural Safety Leader

Many times, we see an airplane or helicopter going over head and it catches our attention to look up and see what kind of plane it is, or what they are doing. Some aircrafts can be personal planes, while others can be military or law enforcement units. Some medical helicopters are easily noticed, especially if they are nose down, on the way to an incident scene. 

Airplanes and helicopters are also used in agriculture production to plant seeds for agronomic crops, cover crops and also to apply fertilizers and pesticides. Aerial applications, also known as crop dusting, is common in Ohio. It is a specialty service for fields that are in their advanced growing stages - where equipment can no longer pass through without ruining the crop. The property owner who hires this work to be done, may not know exactly when this application is going to occur, which makes it difficult to let the neighbors know. 

As you see these aerial devices above, it is interesting to watch them in action. However, it is also important to respect the work zone. Here are a few recommendations for safely watching aerial applicators.

• Stay a safe distance away from the field where the aircraft is working. Do not stand on the edge of the field where you might encounter chemical particles. While these pilots are highly skilled, and use GPS coordinates for pesticide application, there may be a small chance to feel the spray if you are within the mapped area of the field.
• If you watch the field application from a vehicle, please practice roadway safety. Do not stop on a road – pull your vehicle over to the side of the road and use warning flashers. Do not stand in the roadway.

Watching aerial applicators at work is exciting site to see. It is important for by-standers to respect the safety zone. 

For more information about aerial applications, and the celebration of 100 years of aerial applicators, read the story at: https://www.richlandsource.com/area_history/born-in-ohio-aerial-application-turns-100-on-aug-3/article_aca5cac6-f39a-11eb-856e-077006b8e76d.html.

Gigi Neal is an ANR Educator Clermont County, can be reached at 513-732-7070 or neal.331@osu.edu. Dee Jepsen, Extension State Safety Leader, can be reached at 614-292-6008 or jepsen.4@osu.edu. This column is provided by the OSU Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Team. https://agsafety.osu.edu/.

Richard Purdin, OSU Extension, Adams County ANR/CD Educator

Summer is here and many of the spring farm chores are complete, for many farmers this means cleaning up overgrown pastures, buffer strips, grassy waterways, and roadside ditches. Mowing road banks or field edges is a good practice to help control invasive weeds, increase visibility, or just make the property look nice. Operating a brush hog can be a very dangerous chore due to many risk factors -- steep topography, operating along roadways, propelled objects, and various moving equipment parts. Before hopping in the tractor, here are some steps to help keep you safe while making your property a showplace!

Check and Maintain Equipment

• Follow an equipment lubrication schedule and read the operator’s manual thoroughly.
• Sharpen blades.
• Install chain or belt guards to reduce the hazards of thrown objects.
• Inspect for properly working lights and clean visible SMV sign.
• Ensure all shields and guards are in place.

Wear Proper PPE

Wearing the proper clothing can help you avoid entanglement, injury to the eyes, hearing loss, and other physical injuries. Here is some suggested clothing:

• Close-fitting clothing
• Heavy boots
• Safety glasses
• Heavy textured gloves
• Hearing protection

Mowing on Slopes

Brush hogging usually involves working over rough or uneven topography and in many areas of Ohio this involves steep slopes. Some ways to avoid equipment rollover include:

• First read the tractor operator manual, familiarizing yourself with the weight of the tractor and the points of adjustment.
• Add weight to the front and rear end of the tractor to improve balance and control.
• Adjust rear and front tires to sit farther out, increasing stability on slopes.
• Wear a seat belt when the rollover protective structure (ROPS) is in place.
• Avoid extreme slopes of 35% or greater.

Be Aware of your Environment

• First walk unfamiliar fields or areas to help avoid accidents or damage to equipment while operating.
• Pick up tree limbs, rocks, or garbage prior to mowing. If you need to dismount the tractor to remove forage material, disengage equipment and wait for all moving parts to halt.
• Be aware of utility lines, poles, and boxes when mowing along roadways to help avoid costly utility damage and potential injury.

Additional resources are available at https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/aex-79031 and https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/aex-892257.

Richard Purdin, ANR/CD Educator Adams County, can be reached at 937-544 2339 or purdin.19@osu.edu. This column is provided by the OSU Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Team. https://agsafety.osu.edu/.

Lydia Flores, OSU Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Morgan County

Imagine a calm humid morning walking the fields with dad and the dog. The sun is just coming up over the trees as you check the moisture of the hay. Growing up on a farm is not always easy, but it does teach you the value of hard work. All the time spent on the farm watching parents feed the cattle and work the ground really motivates the next generation to be a part of the operation. A significant safety factor lies with the child’s desire to make their parents proud. However, that is where parents must have a discussion with their child(ren) to determine what tasks are developmentally appropriate for them.

According to Farm Progress (2014) “About every three days a child on a U.S. farm dies from an agriculture-related incident. Every day some 38 children are injured on a U.S. farm…Vehicles and machinery account for 73 percent of the deaths of working youth on farms.” Unfortunately, issues concerning farm safety and children are often controversial and emotionally driven. One point that can be agreed upon is one death is too many, especially if it is your child.

Chores Will Vary

A child’s size, motor skills, and cognitive skills are all factors in determining whether they are physically and mentally able to complete certain tasks. The Farm and Ranch eXtension in Safety and Health (FReSH) Community of Practice (2012) listed key points about children working on farms and ranches:

• A child should never be an extra rider on a tractor. A good rule of thumb is “one seat one rider.”
• Supervise all children. Do not leave them alone on the farm or ranch.
• Provide children with the appropriate person protective equipment (PPE) for a given task and teach children the proper use and fit of any items of PPE.
• If children are not physically and cognitively ready to work on the farm, ensure that they have appropriate childcare and are not in farm work areas.
• Routinely inspect your farm or ranch for hazards and immediately remove these dangers.
• Encourage children to participate in local farm and ranch safety activities. 

Developmental Stages

An article by Penn State Extension (2014) provides a comprehensive chart of the developmental characteristics of children from birth through age 18 and offers details about how children develop, common causes of injury or death for each age group, strategies to prevent accidents, and appropriate work tasks.

Check out this link to view the table: https://extension.psu.edu/children-and-safety-on-the-farm.

This article also includes a preventive measure to help farm families record the age-appropriate tasks for the child(ren). “Job Safety Analysis (JSA) is a method that helps parents find job safety hazards and eliminate or minimize them by providing a written set of safe job-task steps for children before the job is performed” (Murphy, 2014). 

When used correctly, a JSA form will remind children and the parents how to do the work correctly and safely each time, but as a reminder, a JSA form should never replace good initial instruction and close supervision.

Lydia Flores, 4-H Educator Morgan County, can be reached at 740-252-5430 or flores.191@osu.edu. This column is provided by the OSU Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Team. https://agsafety.osu.edu/.

Sources

Age-appropriate tasks for children on farms and ranches. (2012) Farm and Ranch eXtension in Safety and Health (FReSH) Community of Practice. Retrieved from https://ag-safety.extension.org/age-appropriate-tasks-for-children-on-farms-and-ranches/.

Murphy, D. (2014, June 20). Children and Safety on the Farm. Penn State Extension. https://extension.psu.edu/children-and-safety-on-the-farm.

Smith, R. (2014, June 2). Farm-related childhood deaths are down, but still too many. Farm Progress. https://www.farmprogress.com/equipment/farm-related-childhood-deaths-are-down-still-too-many.

Denny Riethman, ANR Educator Mercer County

Wheat harvest will happen soon.  A common practice with livestock farmers is to apply manure nutrients following harvest of the wheat.  This increases the importance of reminding operators and applicators of following safety precautions when working around manure pits.  Planning ahead, developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), ensuring everyone is trained, and good communication helps reduce the risk and keep everyone safe.

Manure pit gases are the biggest concern for health and safety around manure handling and storage pits. Hydrogen Sulfide, methane, carbon monoxide and ammonia are gasses of concern. Pit gases from any storage pit, whether closed, open, or under barn storage, can be toxic to both humans and livestock.  Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) gas is the biggest risk and is extremely dangerous and highly unpredictable.  Hydrogen Sulfide gas is released when agitating and pumping manure.  The gas is colorless, flammable and extremely hazardous with a rotten egg smell.  The gas is heavier than air, and will collect is low lying areas without good air movement.  If it is in the breathing area for people and animals, it can be immediately dangerous to life and health.

Manure applicators and individuals working around the barn and confined spaces are recommended to be equipped with H₂S monitors or multi-gas detectors that will provide alerts when levels are increasing.  The alert system will give workers time to move away from higher gas concentration areas.  H₂S gas concentration levels of 2 to 20 ppm will cause symptoms of nausea, headache, and dizziness.  H₂S levels greater than 100 ppm will cause alerted breathing, collapse, and death.  Exposure to ammonia results in immediate burning sensation and redness in the eyes.  Methane and carbon monoxide are odorless and difficult to detect by smell.  The dangerous consequences from all of these gasses increases the importance of having multi-gas monitors in livestock buildings with manure pits below or around them.

It is important to understand the different types of personal protective equipment (PPE) available and the levels of protection they provide.  Having a self-contained breathing apparatus or supplied air respirator on hand is recommended.  Establishing a “Buddy System” in your operating procedures is important when working around manure pits in the event something happens, and someone collapses.  A safety belt or harness should be worn as a lifeline, should a worker need to enter a manure pit.  This allows a co-worker to stay in the peripheral area and keep a safe distance away and pull them to safety should the need arise.  The second person can also call for emergency help if needed.

Properly operating ventilation systems are very important for enclosed barns with manure pits below.  The ventilation system needs to exhaust the gases out of the barn especially while stirring and agitating the manure.  This is important for people working in the area, as well as the animals, to keep them from being fatally exposed to gases.  Think ahead to the process, make sure you are working with partners for maintenance.  If you need to enter a confined space, ventilate the area for a period of time before entering the area.  Follow the “Lock Out, Tag Out” procedure when doing maintenance or fixing equipment to ensure no one else accidently starts equipment you are working on or repairing.

Fencing and signage are important considerations around open manure pits to ensure that children, visitors, and animals are kept out.  Placing signage that indicates hazardous gases are present provides a visual warning and helps alert people to the risks in the area.

Producers and workers do not often see the susceptibility or severity of manure gas hazards.  Building awareness and communication for everyone in the operation is key.  Developing SOPs, training, and communication when working around manure pits is important.  Along with making safety a mindset and part of the thought process as you go through daily tasks, will reduce risks, and keep people and animals safe.

Denny Riethman, ANR Educator Mercer County, can be reached at 419-586-2179 or riethman.24@osu.edu. This column is provided by the OSU Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Team. https://agsafety.osu.edu/. 

Kate Homonai, OSU Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Vinton County

Do you ever stop to think about how amazing the sun is? It is a star that is tens of millions of miles away from earth, yet provides just the right amount of heat and light to support life on our planet. The sun plays an important role in the hydrological cycle that provides us with water and the process of photosynthesis that enables our crops to grow properly.

Sunshine is critical for farm life, but like anything else, too much of a good thing could also be a bad thing. For example, working outside and exposing your skin to the sun can lead to damage like tans or sunburns. That damage can increase our risk of developing skin cancer. Farmers and other individuals who work outdoors are more likely to experience skin cancer than the general population due simply to the nature of their work.

While that is a grim fact, there are steps we can take to protect our skin while we go about our daily tasks:

• Check the local UV index here , including on cloudy days. When the UV forecast is 3 or higher, be sure to apply sunscreen before heading out to work. 
• Apply sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher before heading out for the day, then reapply every 2 hours while you’re out in the sun. You may need to reapply sunscreen more often if you’re sweating heavily or frequently wiping off sweat. 
• Wear a widebrimmed hat (the brim should be 3” or more) to protect your ears, temples, and the back of your neck. Baseball caps do not protect these areas. If you prefer to wear a baseball cap (or even no cap), protect these sensitive areas with sunscreen.
• When possible, plan to work in the shade or indoors when UV rays are strongest, which is typically between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

These simple steps take only a few minutes of our time, but go a long way in protecting our skin while we work outside beneath our amazing sun. 

Kate Homonai, FCS Educator Vinton County, can be reached at 740-596-5212 or homonai.3@osu.edu. This column is provided by the OSU Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Team. https://agsafety.osu.edu/.

Richard Purdin, OSU Extension, Adams County ANR/CD Educator

Spring 2022 has been a wet spring and forage producers have had a challenge to harvest forage crops at the proper timing to capture quality. With all the delays farmers have still managed to harvest their hay crop between the spring rains. As a hay producer myself I feel very rushed these days to not only harvest the hay but also getting the hay in the barn before the next rain. As with any chore, rushing can equal disaster! From rushing harvest and putting wet hay in the barn to hauling an unsecure load down the highway. Today’s farming operations cover multiple farm acreage away from the home farm, meaning that traveling state highways, county roadways, and township roadways with equipment and truck and trailers is essential. Forage producers that do not feed the hay they produce to livestock will sale the hay at a local auction house, this means hay will have to be loaded on a trailer or wagon of some sort and transported to the auction site. There are multiple processes hay can be baled, small square, large square, large round, and small round bales. The size and shape of the bale can make a significant difference in how one should secure and transport to the market. It is hard enough to load the hay once, but it is even harder to load the hay twice, especially on a busy highway. Here are some steps to safely secure and transport your load of hay to the market.

1. Load the hay safely- Make sure the truck and trailer or wagon is in a level spot with room to maneuver loading equipment. Make sure the vehicle hooked to the trailer is in park. 
2. Read the trailer weight limits- Before loading any bales make sure you know your trailer or wagons weight limit and read and check tire pressure to know the weight bearing capacity of the trailer tires. It might be a good idea to check the weight of the bales before loading if possible.
3. Keep load heights low to avoid possible overhead obstructions- According to ODOT a permitted vehicle and load must not exceed 14ft, check out https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/working/publications/shp-op-guide#:~:text=The%20permitted%20vehicle%20and%20load,of%20the%20Ohio%20Revised%20Code to learn more about load restrictions in Ohio.
4. Keep others safe- Make sure farm workers helping with loading process can hear each other and keep at a safe distance when loading with a machine.
5. No riders allowed- In small square bale production it can be tempting to ride on a load of hay from the field to the barn, but this can be extremely dangerous, leading to injury or even death. Do not allow workers to ride on a unsecure or even a secured load.
6. Is your trailer or wagon road ready- Making sure the trailer or wagon is equipped with the proper reflector, slow moving vehicle sign (for wagons) and signal/warning lights work properly. Take time to adjust the braking system that trailers are equipped with, allowing for safe stopping. Always have safety breakaway chains attached to the pulling vehicle. If you are pulling a wagon, make sure to use the proper sized hitch pin WITH A SAFETY KEY, hitch pins have a tendency of working out of the drawbar or receiver hitch.
7. Avoid wide load- try to avoid loading or hauling wide loads, this is any load 10ft or greater. If the load is wider than 10ft think about having someone drive as an escort vehicle.
8. Follow the rules of the road- It sounds simple but when you are in a hurry it can be easy to forget you are hauling thousands of pounds. Dive at a safe speed (check tire specification for speed limit loaded) and avoid taking curves too fast. Stop every so often to check tie down straps to make sure they have not loosened on long trips.

The price of hay this season is strong, avoid rush and take time to secure your load of hay so you can enjoy the bounty of your hard work and avoid causing an accident or injury on the roadway. Happy hay harvest!

To learn more about transporting hay safely check out these useful resources.

https://extension.psu.edu/safely-making-and-handling-large-package-hay-baleshttps://agsafety.osu.edu/towed-implement-lighting-markinghttps://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/aex-59115

Richard Purdin, ANR/CD Educator Adams County, can be reached at 937-544 2339 or purdin.19@osu.edu. This column is provided by the OSU Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Team. https://agsafety.osu.edu/.

Dee Jepsen, Professor and State Agricultural Safety Leader

Taking a drive through the countryside can be an enjoyable leisure activity. When you drive as part of your job, it takes on additional attention towards safety and roadway courtesy. For agronomists employed with an agricultural business, it may also mean abiding by a company policy. This article serves as a reminder for consultants and others who drive and frequently park in rural areas, related to crop scouting activities. 

Company policy:

Always check with your employer for policy regarding vehicle operation. While each company may vary, some of the common rules may include:

• Restrictions on the number of persons permitted in a company vehicle or persons permitted to drive a company vehicle.

• Drivers are bound to follow all traffic laws, i.e wearing a seat belt, following posted speed limits, signaling when making turns, never carrying passengers in the cargo area of pickup trucks, and others.