Carol Keene
New York
Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health
Safety
on the farm needs to be a part of a farm family's everyday
life. The more you think about safety, the more routine and
natural it will be. This is especially true when dealing with
livestock.
Each
year hundreds of people are injured in animal-related accidents.
Stepped-on hands or feet, badly bruised bones from a kick
or an animal's sudden movement, and being caught between a
large animal and a stall partition or wall are all possibilities
when you're working with animals weighing in at a half-ton
or better!
The
National Safety Council suggests these safety practices to
prevent many mishaps:
- Use
adequate retraining and handling facilities.
- Leave
yourself a clear route "out".
- Provide
good footing for handling operations. Keep floors and ramps
clean. Roughened concrete, cleated boots, and "no- slip"
strips could help reduce the risk of falls.
- Wear
protective clothing, footgear, and headgear as the job demands.
- Train
inexperienced workers in safe livestock handling before
allowing them near animals.
- Stay
clear of animals that are frightened, hurt, sick, or have
newborn or young offspring. Be cautious around strange animals.
Other
injuries and illnesses occur in connection with buildings,
tools, and supplies used in the care of livestock. Therefore,
always:
- Use
the appropriate respirator when working in confined housing
or on dusty jobs to protect your lungs.
- Protect
children by keeping them out of animal facilities.
Keep barn chemicals and medications out of reach. Bar access
to grain-bins, silos, and other hazardous areas to unauthorized
persons.
Above
all, try to anticipate unforeseen movements, be aware of what
you're doing, and get help whenever possible. Remember - animal
size can often be greater than human intelligence.
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not
represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears
by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This
public service announcement was produced by the New York Center
for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH), One Atwell
Road, Cooperstown, New York 13326 - Ph# (607) 547-6023 or
(800) 343-7527 in the northeast. Publication date: 1994.
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