Howard
J. Doss and Cornita
Tilma
Michigan State University Extension
Some
tasks on the farm contain hazards that must be done wearing
personal protective clothing and/or specialized safety equipment
if workers are to be safe. It is common with hazardous tasks
involving agricultural chemicals or pesticides for the worker
to use protective clothing and equipment due to the hazardous
nature of the materials. However, other tasks may present
a degree of risk that can be minimized by using some type
of protective clothing and equipment.
Outdoor work and work inside many agricultural buildings may
expose workers' eyes, lungs and skin to a potentially hostile
environment and work-related health problems. Eyes may be
irritated by dust, sawdust, animal dander, or ammonia and
other fumes and gases (see Figure 1). Tiny particles of mold
spores or toxic gases can get into your lungs, nose and throat.
Examples
of farm-related respiratory hazards from breathing contaminated
air are:
- hardening
and inelasticity of areas of the lungs that reduces their
ability to absorb oxygen,
- symptoms
of hayfever and asthma may develop,
- Farmer's
Lung, or
- Bird-Breeder's
Lung (resulting from breathing dust from turkey or chicken
droppings).
These
problems may not manifest themselves for many years, but once
they reach advanced stages they may become chronic.
Skin
irritations may result from handling various animals or plant
materials. Also, cuts or open-skin sores may become infected
from contact with air-borne contaminants, soil, animals or
animal waste. Wearing long pants and a long-sleeved shirt
can help protect the body. Wear gloves when appropriate to
protect the hands. Keep open wounds, cuts and scratches bandaged
when necessary to protect against exposure to dirt or bacteria
that can infect the wound.
Excessive exposure to the sun can also cause problems for
farmers. Skin cancer risks can be reduced by wearing a full-brimmed
hat, a long sleeved shirt, and by applying sunscreen to exposed
areas.
Eyes
are best protected from splashing chemicals or foreign materials
by wearing goggles. Eye shields on safety glasses may be sufficient
in some instances. Face shields work well when handling certain
chemicals, grinding or when working in situations where full
face protection is needed to prevent particles from being
splashed or flung into the face. Never rely on a face shield
to provide respiratory protection.
Respiratory
hazards are generally avoidable by wearing a dust mask designed
to filter the particulate before it reaches your respiratory
system. A dust mask rated for screening out non-toxic particulates
provides basic protection for pollens, animal dander, fiberglass,
or alfalfa dust. A dust mask designed for toxic substances
provides a broader range of protection against inhaling grain
molds and fungal spores (see Figure 2).
Disposable
dust masks worn when cleaning empty grain bins, dusty feed
rooms, etc. should be capable of filtering out particles as
small as 7 microns to filter out pollen and plant spores and
.1 micron to filter bacteria. Read
information on the dust mask (or included on or in the package)
before you buy to be sure you get the correct mask for the
exposure(s) you expect to encounter. Never wear a dust mask
into an area such as a manure pit or a silo where adequate
oxygen is not available. In these areas a self-contained breathing
apparatus (SCBA), similar to those worn by a firefighter,
is needed to provide the worker with adequate oxygen. There
have been several reports of deaths among Michigan farmers
and workers associated with entering a silo or manure pit
without a SCBA.
Hearing
loss is a common problem among farmers and farm workers. Since
most farm equipment cannot be operated in a sound-proof enclosure
workers should use hearing protection when operating or working
in the vicinity of noisy machinery. Earmuffs and plugs are
available to provide hearing protection for most situations.
A modern tractor cab with a noise reduction rating will provide
adequate hearing protection for most situations (see Figure
3).
Illustrations
courtesy of Deere and Company, Agricultural Safety,
Fundamentals of Farm Safety, 1987.
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
Michigan State University, Agricultural Engineering Department.
Howard
J. Doss, Cornita Tilma, Agricultural Safety Specialist and
former Graduate research assistant respectively, Michigan
State University Extension, East Lansing, Michigan 48824.
5/92. Funded by the National Institute of Occupational Safety
and Health -
#UO5/CC-4506052-01
.
This information is for educational purposes only.
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