Working on a farm is, without a doubt, a challenging and laborious job. It involves both physical and mental strength, consumes long hours and requires plenty of patience and perseverance. One of the riskiest places to be on a farm is in the shop. The shop is generally where farm equipment repair and maintenance take place. When not conducted properly, these operations can lead to damage or serious injury. Safety should be the top priority of anyone who steps foot into the farm shop. Safety guidelines and regulations should be clearly outlined and enforced to ensure the safety of all farm workers.
“There always are hazards where tools are used, and we see a lot of injuries in shops,” says LaMar Grafft, Associate Director at North Carolina Agromedicine Institute. “Occasionally when there's a fatality, more often than not, it happens when a piece of equipment has been raised and inadequately blocked.”
Grafft is a reviewer for the Certified Safe Farm program, a voluntary agricultural health, safety, and wellness program created in 1996 by I-CASH. He says shop trouble spots can be reduced with a focus on these eight steps.
Important Farm Shop Safety Tips to Follow:
- ENSURE QUALITY LIGHTING AND AIR FLOW
Proper lighting helps people navigate easily throughout the shop, whereas dim light can be hazardous. For general office and shop work, aim for 50 foot-candles of illumination. For detailed bench work or specific office desk work, use 100 foot-candles. For general machinery storage, 3 to 5 foot-candles is adequate.
- PROPER VENTILATION
Make sure the farm shop is well-ventilated at all times, especially when welding, sawing or handling toxic fluids. An item that is out of sight in the dark can be easily tripped over or knocked down. It’s also important to have full control over the interior temperature of the shop building, as excess heat or cold can cause physical discomfort and lack of focus, leading to potential injury.
Ventilation is vital in a heated shop. Engineering controls are the best way to remove air contaminants, with a ventilation system that includes hoods, roof vents, and high-speed intake and exhaust fans.
An exhaust fan must move 1,000 to 2,000 cubic feet of air per minute to completely remove welding fumes. For engine fumes, fans must be capable of moving 250 cubic feet per minute per vehicle.
- MAKE SAFETY RESOURCES USER-FRIENDLY
An up–to–date first-aid kit should be stored in a highly visible and easily accessible area. A list of important emergency phone numbers, including the fire department, ambulance, local police and poison control, as well as key staff members’ personal contact information, should be mounted at eye level on a wall.
Fire extinguishers should be hung by the shop door and other easily accessible areas of the shop. Fire safety experts recommend a 20-pound ABC extinguisher for shops – and be sure to check your extinguishers annually (your local fire station is also a good source to check your extinguishers).
- KEEP HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND CHEMICALS OUT OF REACH
No matter someone’s level of farming expertise, all flammable and combustible materials should be kept out of reach, properly labeled and only handled when absolutely necessary. Store all toxic chemicals away from open heat sources, hang several active fire extinguishers around the shop and make sure all containers are properly secured and stowed away when not in use.
- USE OF HOISTS, CRANES AND LIFTS
Over half of back injuries occur from lifting. Hydraulic lifts and hoists can help to reduce these injuries.
“We've seen more hoists during the last 10 years,” Grafft says. “They use a standard drive over with a swiveling part below the truck, or a ramp. Some have a crane with a chain hoist. An I-beam can reach across the shop, equipped with a trolley to move items, and a chain to lower and raise them.”
Hoists are safer than skid steers with front-end loader chains. There could be a risk of the chain slipping.
- PREVENT ELECTRICAL INJURY
Make sure that electrical equipment is properly grounded. We frequently see wiring without a ground fault circuit interrupter. If an electrical tool isn't double insulated, there must be a third prong for grounding.
Driving over extension cords creates shorts. Frayed cords are a shock hazard. You shouldn't use less than 12-gauge cords; the heavier ones cost more, but they'll power every piece of equipment and pose less risk of motor damage. Heavier-gauge cord won't overheat or be a fire hazard.
- WEAR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
When working in the farm shop, it’s important to wear fitted, uncontaminated, comfortable clothing, minimal or no accessories and keep hair short or secured and out of your face. Avoid anything loose or hanging that could potentially get caught in equipment.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be used from head to toe, starting with shoes or boots with a heavy tread, steel-toed boots tightly laced. PPE is crucial for the farm shop.
Respirators filter dust, paint fumes, gases, or other hazardous material. Use NIOSH-approved filtering face pieces: N95, N100, or P100.
Leather gloves, chemical-resistant gloves, hard hats, protective aprons, and welding shields are vital. Goggles with side shields protect against chemical splashes, dust, fumes, and debris from bench grinders. Wear a NIOSH-approved respirator that fits under a welding hood, such as a 3M Particulate 8233 or a Moldex 2400 N95 or 2800 N95.
- PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE AND HOUSEKEEPING
Just like you would treat your own home, always keep the work area in the farm shop as clean and sanitary as possible. Not only does cleanliness improve the overall quality and safety of the shop, but it also allows for better productivity and efficiency.
Keeping the floors tidy – especially where you’re currently working – is important so you do not trip or fall. Make sure the floors are free from debris, waste, cords, equipment and tools. Implement a regular cleaning schedule, and wipe or mop up any spills immediately to prevent slips, accidents or surface damage. When handling any type of oil or solvent, wear protective gloves and wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly and frequently to prevent irritation or the spread of bacteria.
Good housekeeping is fundamental. “A lot of trips and falls are caused by clutter, especially extension cords,” Grafft says.
SOURCES:
- Farm Bureau Rural Mutual: 5 Important Farm Shop Safety Tips
- Successful Farming: 9 Farm Shop Safety Tips
- SAIF Corporation: Learn about seven common problem areas around the shop and what you can do to improve safety for you and your employees. Find more safety and health resources at http://saif.com/safetyandhealth.html.