(DAVIS. 9/3/03.) The week of September 21-27,2003,
has been designated National Farm Safety and Health Week. The California
AgrAbility Project encourage safe work practices of agricultural producers and
workers. “This week is a time
to increase our efforts to keep everyone safe and free from injuries, on farms
and ranches,” says Jim Meyers, Director of CalAgrAbility at UC Davis. During this week, we can also
recognize the thousands of men and women who labor throughout the year to
produce food, feed, and fiber for Americans and for nations around the
world.
In 2001 fifty-four agricultural
workers were killed in California and another 26,000 suffered disabling
injuries. CalAgrAbility addresses these injuries and provides assistance to
farmers and farm workers who are disabled or have chronic health
conditions. National Farm Safety
and Health Week is an opportunity to recognize common risks and consider some
simple things that can reduce such farm injuries.
● Vehicles are involved in the
largest number of agricultural fatalities.
Require drivers and passengers to wear seatbelts on and off the
road. Transport workers in
appropriate vehicles. Those who
travel in rural areas should be familiar with the Slow Moving Vehicle Symbol.
Always use caution when driving in rural areas, especially now in the busy
harvest season.
● Tractor rollovers continue to
cause fatalities. If a tractor has no rollover protective structure (ROPS), get
one retrofitted! All five of the major tractor manufacturers (Case, Deere,
Kubota, Agco, and New Holland) offer retrofit ROPS for tractors. Install and use ROPS and seatbelts. They
do save lives.
● Protect children. Children are the
future of agriculture. Treat them with the respect and caution they deserve.
Keep them safe and out of harm’s way.
● Most injuries in California
agriculture are from overexertion. Get help lifting heavy, awkward, or bulky
objects. Know your capabilities and work within them. No task is worth an
injury. Take the time to do things safely and well the first
time.
Safety should be part of every farm
and ranch task. Even the smallest daily job should reflect an attitude
that communicates the importance of
safety. Everyday, CalAgrAbility
Project staff across the state provide information that echoes this message.
“Our clients have already sustained injuries and need to take extra precautions
to stay safe. We help our disabled
clients find ways to modify their operations, equipment, and homes so that they
can continue to live and work safely,” says Martha Stiles, CalAgrAbility State
Coordinator.
Farmers, ranchers, and workers with
any type of physical, cognitive, or sensory condition (e.g., amputation,
traumatic brain injury, hearing impairment) that limits their ability to do farm
work or daily living activities are eligible for AgrAbility services. To date,
dozens of farmers and workers have received assistance from the California AgrAbility Project. To find out more about it call
Martha Stiles at (530-752-2606) or visit the project’s website at
http://calagrability.ucdavis.edu/
USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service funds a National AgrAbility Project and 24 State Projects. The California AgrAbility Project is a joint effort between the University of California and Easter Seals Superior Sacramento.