Keeping them (safe) down on the farm

While National Farm Safety and Health Week has come and gone for the year, it's never too late to think about farm safety. Twenty-two people died last year in Illinois from farm-related incidents, 10 fewer than the previous year, according to a study released by Country Insurance & Financial Services. Illinois lost 13 farmers, three children and six non-farm residents from July 1, 2006, to June 30, 2007. While the number of farm deaths for 2006-07 marks the lowest number of farm-related deaths in the last three years, tractor-related deaths continue to be the leading cause of farm-related deaths in Illinois. • Nine of the 22 deaths were tractor-related. • Nearly half of the tractor-related deaths were caused by tractor rollovers. • Twenty-three percent of the total deaths were caused by collisions, either with farm machinery, oncoming traffic or farm animals. • Sixty-three percent of the deaths involved someone over the age of 50. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, agriculture is one of the most hazardous industries for workers. Farmers are at high risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries, including work-related lung diseases, noise-induced hearing loss, skin diseases and certain cancers associated with chemical use and prolonged sun exposure. Farming is also one of the few industries where workers are at risk for injuries, illness and death. Sherry Hockings of Bureau County's University of Illinois Extension office knows a lot about farm safety. Each year, at the Ag Fair held for the county's fourth graders, she holds a segment on farm safety. At first glance, her display of miniature buildings, animals and equipment seemed peaceful, but a closer look revealed many dangers. Careless figures wandered in front of farm equipment, while plastic animals escaped their pens. Hockings also teaches children about farm safety at area after-school programs. Hockings said children used to be more aware of the dangers of being on a farm. “Four years ago, they were real aware, but now, until something happens locally, it's not relevant to them,” she said. “It doesn't seem as real to them.” Hockings said she received a call from one school who wanted her to come and give a presentation because the students would run into nearby corn fields to retrieve balls while the corn was being harvested. “They don't understand how they can get hit by a combine because it's so big,” Hockings said. “Well, it's moving faster than they think.” While most of Hockings' work is with children, that doesn't mean safety shouldn't be an issue for adults. Hockings said most farm injuries to adults occur because of carelessness because the farmers are in a hurry. “The best way to get hurt on a farm is to jump on a tractor and go mow a ditch,” she said. Comment on this article at www.bcrnews.com.