Bradley
K. Rein
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Agriculture
continues to be the most hazardous U.S. industry, despite
decreases in overall work-related accidents. In 1989, an estimated
1,300 lives were lost, and 120,000 disabling injuries experienced
on farms and ranches. Victims of farm-related injuries in
the United States incur approximately $2.5 billion in hospital
and rehabilitation costs each year.
The
Cooperative Extension System (CES) has developed and put into
practice educational programs that apply a holistic approach
to agricultural safety and health. Programs range from PREVENTION
of traumatic injury and health hazards, to RESCUE of
farm accident victims, to REHABILITATION of farmers
with disabling injuries. These programs complement and mutually
support one another. For example, rescue programs stress
prevention of further injuring victims and preventing
rescuer injuries. Rehabilitation programs stress safe
practices and workplace modifications for prevention of
additional injuries.
CES supports farm safety education programs in all 50 states
and Puerto Rico. The programs teach farmers, ranchers, agricultural
workers, and farm families how to:
- prevent
farm accidents involving tractors, machinery, livestock,
and farm structures; and
- reduce
exposure to occupational health hazards, such as noise,
farm chemicals, dust, and infectious agents.
State
farm safety leaders develop programs to meet their states'
most critical needs.
CES
trainers have taught more than 17,000 professional rescuers
farm accident rescue procedures (see Figure 1). Nonprofessionals
are taught correct immediate emergency response. The Northeast
Regional Agricultural Engineering Service has widely distributed
three publications: First on the Scene (for nonprofessionals),
and Farm Accident Rescue and Extinguishing Silo Fires
(for firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians). Purdue
University, in Indiana, produced the Agricultural Medic Instructor
Training Guide. The information in these publications
is crucial to reducing rescuer injuries and further injury to
victims, and in emphasizing the value of accident prevention.
More than 500,000 agricultural workers have physical disabilities
that limit their ability to do their jobs. Each year, more than
100,000 disabling injuries happen on farms, many of which are
far removed from urban-based sources of help. Rural locations
also generally lack specialized education or therapy facilities
needed to put the disabled to work in safe and productive agricultural
operations (see Figure 2).
CES
has exceptional programs and expertise, such as the Breaking
New Ground Resource Center in Indiana, and the
Rural and Farm Family Vocational Rehabilitation
Program in Vermont. To meet needs, CES rehabilitation
programs often draw upon partnerships with other organizations
such as the Iowa Easter Seal Society's Farm Family Rehabilitation
Management (FaRM) Program.
Congress
has provided new funds to establish and enhance educational
and assistance programs for farmers with disabilities. To
initiate this program, grants were awarded to Extension Service/Easter
Seal partnerships in 10 states. State projects are underway
in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, New York, Vermont,
and Wisconsin, and a regional program serving Montana, Idaho,
and Wyoming.
To find
out what programs and resources are available in your area,
contact the Cooperative Extension County Agent (listed in
your local telephone directory, usually under county government)
or Extension Farm Safety Leader, who is at your state land-grant
institution.
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
document is
0-866-310
,
a Farm Safety Fact Sheet, United States Department of Agriculture
Extension Service. Publication date: May 1991.
Bradley
K. Rein, National Program Leader, Agri-Industry Systems/Farm
Safety, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington,
DC, 20250-2260.
Mention
or display of a trademark, proprietary product, or firm in
text or figures does not constitute an endorsement by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture and does not imply approval
to the exclusion of other products or firms.
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