and falls farm safety


Slips, trips,


Be aware of the danger. A substantial number of farminjuries—and even some fatalities—have resulted fromwhat we might think of as a simple fall.


S


lipping on an icy surface or tripping over some old boards stacked on a darkened floor or in a walkway can have serious consequences.


Following are some more examples that we can all relate to:  On his way back to the hay mow, a young, inexperienced worker trips over some twines that were left in the aisle. He falls through a bale “throwdown” hole, and breaks several bones as a result of landing on the concrete floor below.


 It's the end of a long day in the field. The tractor driver shuts down his machine, then jumps from the platform to the ground. He twists his ankle upon landing, and is on crutches for several days.


 An oil slick remains on the shop floor following repairs to a tractor's hydraulic system. No one takes the time to cover it with sand or cat litter, or clean it up. A worker slips on the slick surface, and gashes his forehead on the edge of an adjacent work bench.


 Freezing rain has knocked out the main power grid. A farmer is using a PTO generator to provide lighting in the barn. While checking on the equipment, he slips on a patch of ice and falls onto the PTO shaft, with fatal results.


Although fictitious, these are the 20 British Columbia Berry Grower • Spring 2016


kinds of incidents that could easily happen in just about any farm workplace. Management definitely has a responsibility to eliminate slip and trip hazards to the greatest extent possible. Workers need to adopt habits that will reduce their chances of being injured in a fall.


Encourage them to:


• Learn to recognize potential slip and trip hazards.


• Take steps to eliminate them, if possible.


• Report something they feel could be


a threat to sound footing.


• Stay alert, and think about their actions, remembering to “look before you leap.” HAZARD ELIMINATION


• Make sure all aisles and walkways are kept free of clutter and debris. Follow the principle of “a place for everything, and everything in its place”. • Clean up oil spills and other slippery materials immediately.


• Set aside a few minutes to put tools away and clean up debris at the end of the day. Work is more efficient and


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