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By following these guidelines you can reduce the
likelihood of damage or injury and help make
your farm a safer place for your family and
employees. For additional information contact
your Oliver Insurance
agent.
Tractors and Farm Machinery
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Do not allow children to ride on
tractors.
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Have roll-over protection on all
tractors.
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Have all operators complete a tractor
safety course.
-
Inspect and maintain all machinery,
equipment and tools to keep them in proper
working condition.
-
Make sure all equipment has properly
working lights and slow moving vehicle
signs.
-
Wear seat belts when operating all
vehicles, including farm machinery.
-
Make sure all power take-offs, belts and
augers have proper guards and shields.
-
Turn off power before adjusting,
servicing or unclogging power-driven
machinery.
-
Make sure loads being towed are properly
hitched to the drawbar and that pins and
chains are in place.
-
Inspect and maintain all hydraulic hoses
and couplings.
-
Make sure tires are properly inflated.
Chemicals and Other Hazards
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Read and follow manufacturer's
directions for storage, handling and
application of chemicals. Contact your
county extension agent for additional
information or training on chemical
handling.
-
Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE),
including gloves, eye/face shields, ear
plugs, respiratory protection and hats.
-
Wear devices to protect your hearing
(studies show more than 50 percent of older
farmers have hearing loss).
-
When entering pits in hog barns, always
wear a respirator to avoid being overcome by
the fumes.
-
Have first-aid kits available and
develop an emergency plan.
Security
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Maintain adequate lighting around the
farmyard and in the home.
-
Have single cylinder deadbolt locks on
all entrance doors to your home. Keep farm
buildings locked.
-
Record serial numbers of all equipment.
Mark equipment and livestock to aid in
recovery should a theft occur.
-
Ask neighbors to check the farm
regularly when you are gone.
Buildings
-
Have an electrician verify that all
electrical systems and equipment are
properly grounded. This can help reduce the
chance of shocks and/or production losses to
livestock.
-
Install corrosive-resistant wiring,
fixtures and boxes in hog and dairy barns.
-
Be sure grain bins have permanent
ladders inside and out. Use a lifeline when
entering a bin or silo and wear a protective
mask.
-
Do not use extension cords as permanent
hookups.
-
Hang brooder lamps by chains, not the
electrical cords.
-
Insulation in all buildings should be
covered with a 15-minute fire barrier (for
example, ½-inch rate gypsum board, and
5/8-inch plywood).
Fire prevention
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Maintain smoke detectors throughout your
home and check that batteries are working.
(Change batteries at least every 6 months.)
-
Weld only in well-ventilated areas away
from flammable or combustible materials.
-
Place approved fire extinguishers in
your home, on large tractors or combines,
and in barns, shops and machine sheds.
-
Develop an evacuation plan for family
members, including a meeting place.
-
Have a licensed electrician periodically
inspect your electrical systems. Be sure
updates to your current electrical systems
are performed by a qualified electrician.
-
Inspect and maintain heating units
before the beginning of each heating season.
-
Clean fireplace/woodstove chimneys prior
to the heating season more often if you use
the fireplace often.
-
Install surge protection on service
panels in the home and in dairy or hog
barns.
-
Consider installing a lightning
protection system. Consult a UL or LPI
(Lightning Protection Institute) approved
contractor.
-
Practice good maintenance of your farm
or ranch. Cut weeds and grass around
buildings, maintain a clean shop, and store
all chemicals and flammable liquids
properly.
-
Don't burn trash outdoors on windy days
and don't leave fires unattended.
We believe the information contained on this
site to be reliable and accurate. However, we do
not warrant the accuracy nor the reliability of
this information. Further, State Farm makes no
guarantees of results from use of this
information. We assume no liability in
connection with either the information contained
in this publication nor the loss control
suggestions made. Moreover, we would caution
that it cannot be assumed that every acceptable
loss control procedure is contained in this
publication. Abnormal or unusual circumstances
may require further or additional procedures. |
