Friday, May 9, 2014

Spring Planting Safety Tips

Planting season is when many farm injuries and fatalities occur. University of Missouri farm safety specialist Karen Funkenbusch recommends keeping in mind the following precautions:
1.     Review equipment manuals before planting. Growers are often less familiar with seasonal equipment than equipment used on a daily basis.
2.     Inspect all planting equipment before use. Make sure shields and guards are in place and seat belts work.
3.     Never lean or step over a power takeoff while it's operating.
4.     Don't wear loose-fitting clothing around PTO shafts or other moving parts. Keep long hair tied back or under a cap.
5.     Shut down equipment, turn off the engine, remove keys and wait for moving parts to stop before dismounting equipment.
6.     Maintain Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) symbols on all equipment.
7.     Keep bystanders and children away from all equipment.
8.     Always read chemical packaging labels. Information should include proper use and handling of the chemical, safe storage and first-aid treatment.
9.     Keep material safety information at hand for crop-protection chemicals. Information should include health-hazard data, spill or leak procedures and handling information.
10.   Wear protective gear specified by the label, including protective goggles and face shields, chemical-resistant gloves, coveralls, boots, hats and aprons.
11.   Store crop-protection chemicals in locked areas. Clearly label these areas.
12.   Launder chemical-soiled clothing separately and triple rinse.
13.   Wash hands thoroughly after using such chemicals.

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