Bill Field, Jean Goodrick
Purdue Extension
One
of the most frustrating responsibilities facing many farm
wives is keeping each family member properly clothed. The
unique tastes of individual members usually require that special
attention be given to style, color and comfort as well as
durability and washability. However, one aspect that is often
overlooked concerns the personal safety of the wearer. Inappropriate
or poorly maintained clothing has contributed to numerous
personal injuries on Hoosier farms. The following case histories
identify just a few.
* A teen-age
boy on a northern Indiana farm was helping unload corn into
a portable auger. When he inadvertently got too close to the
spinning auger, the untied lace of his workboot became entangled.
His leg was pulled into the auger and severed.
* Several
small children of one Indiana farm family were taken to the
doctor for treatment of skin rashes. It was determined that
the children's underclothing had become contaminated with
pesticides when those garments were washed with the clothing
worn by their father when he was applying farm chemicals.
* A farm
wife was helping her husband dig fence posts with a tractor
mounted auger. The hood of her parka became entangled in the
power-take-off shaft, and she was injured severely before
her husband could shut off the tractor.
* Another
Indiana farmer went to his doctor complaining of severe headaches
and dizziness. After several tests it was discovered that
the sweat band of his "seedcorn" cap had become contaminated
with pesticide. Unknowingly, he was exposing himself to the
chemical every time he wore the hat.
Taking
a few minutes to check the clothing worn by family members
as they leave each morning for work, school, or play will
help keep them healthy and safe. Use the following seasonal
checklist as a guide.
____
layered clothing to allow for adjustment to changing temperature
____
rain gear to keep inner clothing warm and dry
____
heavy duty workshoes when doing farm work
____
eye protection available and worn during application of anhydrous
ammonia
____
long-sleeve shirt or coveralls, rubber gloves, rubber boots
and chemical goggles when handling or applying pesticides
____
shoes or boots worn when horse riding
____
adequate coverage of skin to prevent overexposure to the sun
____
hearing protection from excessive machinery noise
____
reflective clothing worn when walking or biking on the highway
at night.
____
shirttails tucked in
____
pant cuffs free from excessive frays
____
helmet worn when motorcycle riding
____
personal flotation devices worn when boating
____
clothing free of loose threads or buttons, broken zippers
or dangling strings
____
wrist jewelry, rings and neck chains removed or covered
____
highly visible clothing worn when hunting
____
non-flammable clothing worn when burning leaves or exposed
to open flames
____
warm hat to conserve body heat and protect ears from cold
____
windproof coveralls or snowmobile suits worn when exposed
to the cold for long periods
____
neck scarfs tucked inside jacket
____
non-slip footwear to prevent slips and falls
____
warm, dry gloves to protect from frostbite
Proper
care and maintenance, as well as choice of clothing appropriate
for the job or activity, figure strongly in the farm family's
well-being.
Keep
Clothes in Good Repair: Open jackets, flapping sleeves,
loose hems and frayed edges can be hazardous.
Replace
missing buttons or broken zippers
Secure
loose hems, especially at the bottom of sleeves and pant legs.
Refinish
frayed edges.
Keep
Clothes Clean: Garments that are dusty, dirty, soaked
with oil or solvent, or contaminated with chemicals can cause
skin rash or disabling dermatitis. Because pesticides can
enter the body through the skin, careful handling of garments
contaminated by drifts or spills is required.
Clothes
worn while mixing and applying chemicals should be washed
after each wearing.
Do not
mix contaminated clothes with other laundry; they should go
right into the washer for laundering as soon as they are removed,
or into a plastic bag to await laundering.
Use
laundry procedure (Recommended procedure based on results
of a study conducted at Iowa State University) normally used
heavily soiled clothing:
* Use
hot water which is at least 140°F.
* Use
full water level, even for a small wash load.
* Use
manufacturer's recommended amount of heavy-duty detergent.
A laundry product with an ingredient that ties up water hardness
minerals in a soluble form (phosphate or sodium nitrilotriacetate)
is preferred.
* The
addition of one-half cup household ammonia OR chlorine
bleach (not both) could enhance cleaning action.
* Dry
clothes thoroughly in an automatic dryer for 30 minutes at
the regular fabric setting.
* Remove
any left-over pesticide from the washer by running the machine
through a complete wash cycle, with detergent but without
clothes.
In the
event of a concentrated spill, get clothing off immediately
and wash the affected area with plenty of soap and water.
Garments contaminated with the concentrated pesticide should
be washed several times or even discarded.
NOTE:
Some chemicals may require more specialized treatment of laundry
than outlined above. Be sure to read product label information,
and observe all handling instructions.
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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
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Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service
West Lafayette, IN 47907
Bill Field, Extension Safety Specialist
Jean Goodrick, Extension Textiles Specialist
Cooperative
Extension work in Agriculture and Home Economics, state of
Indiana, Purdue University, and U.S. Department of Agriculture
cooperating; HA. Wadsworth, Director, West Lafayette. IN.
Issued in furtherance of the acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914.
Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service is an equal
opportunity/equal access institution
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