When it comes to fall harvest, there’s a lot to be done in a short amount of time. Top that off with shorter days and colder weather, and you get a developed sense of urgency among farmers, which can lead to injury and death…especially when it comes to our children!

Farms and ranches are home to many things that are beneficial to both children and adults (plants, animals, family, chores, business features, etc.). Many adults who grew up on farms are happy to talk about the benefits of being raised on a farm – from instilling a good work ethic and teaching responsibility to building character and instilling a passion, love and respect for the land.

However, farms and ranches also have the most dangerous and deadly worksites in the U.S. By implementing safety strategies, farmers and ranchers, their families and employees can reap the benefits of farm and ranch life, while minimizing the risks. Top 5 Farm Safety Stats 

COME UP WITH A FAMILY CHECKLIST.

The better you maintain your equipment and yard, the less likely things are to break down.

“It’s when things break down and we lose time that we take unsafe shortcuts, which can lead to accidents,” says Cheryl Skjolaas, an Agricultural Safety Specialist at the UW Center for Agricultural Safety and Health,.

To prevent your tractor and other important farm equipment from breaking down, make a list of what needs to be done to maintain them. Then, assign workers and family members to complete those tasks.

This way, nothing will be overlooked or forgotten, and you’ll prevent safety and technical hiccups. You’ll also increase productivity.

KNOW WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE.

Each year, more than 100 children are killed and nearly 12,000 are seriously injured on U.S. farms. The highest rate of injuries involves children younger than 10 years old who were playing in the worksite. To prevent these injuries, create, use, and maintain a safe play area on your farm.

Keep children off of tractors and farm equipment, and enforce a rule to make sure they don’t run recklessly outside while you are working.

That being said, know where your children are before taking out machinery and make sure they aren’t hiding underneath the tractor.

HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN.

Developing an emergency communication plan is essential. Most likely, you won’t need it – but if you do, you’ll be glad to have it.

These plans ensure that when there’s an emergency situation, everyone knows how to respond right away. You’ll save time, and potentially a life.

“If someone isn’t back by 9 p.m., do you know what field they are in, which route they are on?” Cheryl says.

Once you develop your plan, make sure everyone is familiar with it.

TRAIN ANYONE WHO IS ABOUT TO USE EQUIPMENT.

It’s easy to invite your neighbor over to hop on a tractor and help out with the farm chores, especially when time is tight.

But you shouldn’t let anyone on a tractor, or use any farm equipment, without at least some training.

A lack of training is dangerous not only for the inexperienced person – if you’re new to a job, you have a greater risk of injuring yourself – but for everyone else working, too.

“Whoever is driving the tractor or using equipment needs to know basic procedures and safety precautions,” Cheryl says.

IF YOU FEEL FATIGUE, STOP.

It’s easy to want to push on, even when you’re tired. But, if you’re fatigued, you’re more likely to take shortcuts and risk injuring yourself or others.

Don’t turn to extra cups of coffee or sugary caffeinated drinks either. It’s best to stick to a healthy diet and give your body the rest it needs, when it needs it.

BEWARE OF MACHINERY ENTANGLEMENTS.

Machinery entanglements are the leading cause of injury and death on the farm. Do everything you can to prevent it – including guarding or shielding all moving parts on machinery, and keeping bystanders and children away.

The National Farm Medicine Center and National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety designed the Cultivate Safety website to provide easy access to agricultural safety information and resources for farmers, ranchers, supervisors and their families. You can help prevent accidents by staying organized and preparing ahead of time. For more information on how to remain safe during harvest season, visit Farm Safety and CultivateSafety.