Ensuring Agriculture Safety: Best Practices and Protocols

1. Agriculture Safety

2. Good Safety Attitude • Ultimately a personal choice to follow the rules • Includes: • Full attention on the job • No horseplay • No unnecessary noise • Consequences will include: • injury to yourself, others, or the machinery • Penalties for actions

3. Common Hazards • thrown objects • pinch points • pull in points • crush points • animal kicking, biting, striking • hot and cold materials • toxic fumes • hazardous chemicals • sharp edges • slippery surfaces • electrical shock

4. Preventing Falls • recognizing hazards • slippery foot surfaces • cluttered steps and areas • on-off accidents

5. Eye Protection • hazards • shields and goggles • lens shades • Z87 Safety ID Sparks Wood/Metal Dust Infrared Light Grinding Heat Thrown objects Ultraviolet Light

6. Hearing Protection • noise hazards and problems • earplugs • earmuffs Decibel is the unit used to measure sound. Stream flowing = 30 db Circular saw = 80 db Anything over 80 db can cause injury Jack hammer = 110 db Airplane = 130 db

7. Burn Protection 1st Degree = redness 2nd Degree = blistering 3rd Degree = tissue & nerve damage • burns-types and treatments • fire extinguisher locations • fire extinguisher-types and operations • fire blankets • exits • smoking hazards-no smoking areas • electrical hazards • emergency showers

8. Fire Requirements • Oxygen • Atmospheric air has 20% oxygen • Higher altitudes have less oxygen • Fuel • Can be any number of sources from combustibles, fuels, electric, or metal • Heat • Flash point is when the combustible material is hot enough to burst into flame. This is different for each material.

9. Fire Extinguishers • Class A • Ordinary combustibles: wood, plastic, etc. • Class B • Flammable liquids: gas, grease, paints, etc. • Class C • Electrical equipment: breaker boxes, outlets • Class D • Metals that burn: magnesium,

10. Avoidance of Fumes & Gases • Proper ventilation • fan operation • respirators and face masks • Poisonous liquid fumes • welding fumes • paint fumes • exhaust fumes • pesticide fumes • medicine fumes • chemical fumes

11. Electrical Shock Prevention • equipment in good condition • proper grounding • dry areas • Less than 1 amp kills

12. Proper Lifting Technique • protect hands and feet • straight back, bent knees

13. Proper Clothing Apparatus • shop coats • coveralls • hard hats • hard toe shoes • gloves • rain gear • goggles • skull cap • respirator • ear plugs

14. Accident Care • location of first-aid kit • first-aid treatment and procedures • nurse location • emergency telephone numbers • accident reporting forms

15. Safety Training • Read the manual • Read the label(s) • Know your rights • Review safety issues

16. Personal Hygiene • clean uniform, clothes, and personal equipment • clean hands and fingernails before and/or after work • hair length and care

17. OSHA • Occupational Safety and Health Administration • A Government agency that regulates worksite safety. • 4” thick binder with safety regulations! • 10+ employee businesses are subject to unannounced visits. Smaller businesses are visited when an accident happens or on a call only basis

18. Safety Labels • MSDS Labels • Material safety and data sheets • Names chemical and helps with remedy for the doctor/poison control center • Cabinet warning signs • Poison – Flammable – Extreme Pressure • Hauling labels • Required by transportation department • SMV signs • Slow Moving Vehicle sign for under 20 mph

19. Stay Safe!! • You only have one life, 10 fingers, 2 eyes, and 2 ears. • Can you live with yourself if you caused someone else to be critically injured? • Hospital bills and equipment repair is very expensive. • Some day you’ll have a family to provide for.