Reduce risk of farm injuries

Let’s start the new year with a plan to be safer on the farm!  Every beef producer has heard the statistics about how dangerous it is to farm. After receiving the encouragement to be more careful, it is generally back to business as usual. Accidents always happen to someone else, or so we think.

How many times have you had the skin knocked off your knuckles? Surprise! An accident has just happened. Could it have been worse? You bet! As beef producers the danger comes not only from the animals, but the equipment that is used to support the beef operation. Let’s look at a just a few of areas where we need to be more careful.

Let’s start with the animals. Any time that animals are approached there is danger. A cow with a new calf is dangerous. She was calm with her last calf, but will she be calm with this one? When working cattle, always be sure to have a good functional handling facility available. Always position yourself where animals will not run over you, kick you, or otherwise cause harm. Be careful when filling syringes and giving injections. Do not accidently inject yourself. Be extra careful when applying pour on, dewormers and lice control products. Dispose of all medical wastes properly.

Focus for a moment on the bull, the most dangerous animal on the farm. Do not trust him under any circumstances. Don’t fall into the trap of saying he has never caused a problem so he is safe. Many things can trigger a bull to react adversely; always have an escape route.

Now think about hauling animals. Forcing an animal into an unfamiliar trailer may cause a negative response. Use low-stress handling techniques to keep out of harm’s way while making the loading process easier. Load only the number of animals that the trailer is designed to haul. Overloading or even under-loading can cause animals to get down in the trailer. Trying to assist an animal that has fallen is very dangerous.

Don’t forget about all the equipment that is being used on the farm. Tractors overturn relatively easily. Hauling hay on the front or back of the tractor changes the center of gravity and thus increases the possibility of turning over. Be sure that all shields are in good repair and in place. An unprotected PTO shaft is an accident waiting to happen. Always stop equipment before working on it; moving parts provide an excellent place for fingers to be caught. While making adjustments or repairs, be sure to use the proper tools. Do you have a fire extinguisher mounted on the equipment where it is easily accessible? Do you have one in the truck also? Fires do not occur very often, but do happen. Another area of concern is the working around gasoline, lubricants and other flammable liquids. Smoking around these products is extremely dangerous. Welders and heaters provide a place where fires can start. Don’t forget that there is a fire hazard when hay is present. Not only are flames from an external source a problem, hay that was baled too wet can cause a fire from internal combustion. Remember that a hot exhaust can ignite the hay.

As farmers, I hope that you realize the risk that you face each day. Should you get out of the cattle business and stop farming? Absolutely not! The intent of this article is to help you work safely. Accidents, even very minor ones, are a part of farming. Please do not think that all of this is “fine and dandy” and accidents always happen to someone else. Reduce your odds of becoming one of the beef producers that have an accident in the future.