Thu, 5 Sep 2002
SAFETY NEWS & NOTES Vol. 3 No. 5

THOUGHTS & QUOTES
"NATIONAL FARM SAFETY & HEALTH WEEK...NOT JUST FOR FARMERS ANYMORE"
SHOP POWER TOOLS SAFETY PRESENTATIONS & INFORMATION
TOP TEN LIST
HOMELAND SECURITY & FACING FEAR
LARGE ANIMAL DISASTER RESCUE TRAINING
NEW SAFETY PUBLICATIONS

 

THOUGHTS & QUOTES

Here are the 'Top Ten' Safety quotes that I put together from various safety videos and news clippings. "The Top 10 List For a Safer You in 2002!" Read through them and chuckle a bit. How many times have we done the same thing?
10. "I'll clean up the shop next week-end!"
9. "I'll use that extension cord just this once...then I'll replace it for sure!"
8. "It's nice knowing that I have that protection (ROPS and seatbelt) for when I do something stupid!"
7. "I only used it about once a year!" (so when I do use it, I'll be really careful!)
6. "I was reaching for something on the top shelf!"
5. "I don't need that shield to operate the machine!"
4. "I know the shortcut is dangerous...but I'll be really, really careful!"
3. "I'll only be away from the stove for a minute to answer the phone!"
2. "...but it won't happen to me!" (It always happens to someone else, but all it takes is just that once...)
1. "While biking he had been hit by cars several times before...but never this bad!" (quote from an article in the Gainesville Sun re: a bicyclist age 50+ and being somewhat intoxicated, who veered into the path of a car.

 

"NATIONAL FARM SAFETY & HEALTH WEEK...NOT JUST FOR FARMERS ANYMORE"

National Farm Safety and Health Week is September 15th-21st. This year's theme, "....Not Just for Farmers Anymore" focuses on roadway safety. Audiences targeted are operators of ag machinery on public roads, the general public motorist, and pedestrians and bicyclists. The fact sheets and PSA's can be found at: http://www.nsc.org (click on Farm Safety and Health Week which is the 2nd item under Highlights). Please pass along this important message even after the 3rd week in September.
I would encourage counties to use the PSA's with their local media stations. This is a topic that I have been concerned with for a long time...there is a lot of info available for the equipment operators as to lighting and marking requirements, but there is a lack of awareness on the part of J.Q.Public who does not know the road hazards of farm machinery. I was very pleased when NSC selected this topic for this year's focus. The fact sheets are very good. Additionally, for those that may want an activity to use, an interactive story that I was involved with developing as a part of a project with the U of Kentucky, "No Way to Meet a Neighbor" can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000901-d001000/d000997/9.html

 

SHOP POWER TOOLS SAFETY PRESENTATIONS & INFORMATION

Woodworking operations can be very dangerous, particularly when people use machines improperly or without proper safeguards. To help employers provide a safe and healthful workplace, OSHA developed an eTool that describes the principal woodworking hazards and possible solutions. It is quite well done and worth a review by anyone that uses these tools at work,home, or in school classes. It is especially worth a review for those groups that will have new students/employees working in your shop areas. http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/woodworking_etool/production.html This section covers the major safety and health hazards of woodworking, and discusses controls and work procedures for minimizing worker exposure to these hazards. The following tools are covered:
Handheld Tools: Sanders, Jig Saws, Routers, Drills, Circular Saws,and Pneumatic Nail/Stapling Guns
Stationary Machines: Table Saws, Band Saws, Scroll Saws, Lathes, Jointers, Shapers, Power-Feed Planers/Moulders, Drill Presses, Belt Sanders, Wide Belt Sanders, Inverted/CNC Routers, Tenoning Machine,Boring/Mortising Machines
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/woodworking_etool/rough_equip.html discusses the tools and hazards of rough milling/woodworking. The following additional tools are covered: Straight Line/Gang >Rip Saws, Radial Arm Saws, Jointers, Planers/Moulders.
The site also includes a woodworking tool slide show http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/woodworking_etool/slide_presentation/index.html
Finally, the site includes information on recommended exhaust ventilation for each type of equipment, discussion of fire and dust hazards, ergonomics and more.

 

TOP TEN

This article provides information for the top ten leading causes of 'accidental' death in the U.S. http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/toptens/accidents/accidents.html

 

HOMELAND SECURITY & FACING FEAR

The Capital Area Chapter of Red Cross website contains very good information on hurricanes,etc. It also has added information on Homeland Security.
In March 2002 the White House issued Homeland Security Directive # 3 which established five threat conditions for possible terrorist attack. RED = SEVERE > ORANGE = HIGH > YELLOW = ELEVATED > BLUE = GUARDED > GREEN = LOW
Across the country questions were raised of "What does a condition 'YELLOW' mean to my family? or What does this mean to a business, school or local government?" In recognition of the need by individuals to understand how to prepare for each threat level the Red Cross developed a comprehensive set of preparedness recommendations for:
INDIVIDUALS FAMILIES NEIGHBORHOODS SCHOOLS BUSINESSES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
A lesson plan and activities were also developed, "Facing Fear", to help young people cope with uncertain times. This information is contained on The Capital Area Chapter website: http://www.tallytown.com/redcross/

 

LARGE ANIMAL DISASTER RESCUE TRAINING

Mary Peters, Broward county extension director, coordinated a training program for Large Animal Rescue. The trainers came in from Clemson. They have developed a large animal rescue program. Large animal emergency rescue is the response phase of a natural or manmade disaster or other type of incident where specialized training and equipment are required to rescue a large animal such as a horse or cow. A very important aspect of their work for the past several years has been to provide training in large animal emergency rescue to emergency responders (Firefighters, EMS personnel, rescue squads,), public safety officers, veterinarians, animal control, and groups of horse owners involved in animal rescue.
The program was very successful. Anyone interested in finding out more about this can contact Mary.

 

NEW SAFETY PUBLICATIONS

Safer Tractor Operations for Privately Owned and Operated Farms and Ranches will be posted on the EDIS website within the next day or two. It can be found at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AE196
Two fact sheets that should be up in the next couple of weeks are:
Small Farmer's Resources for Safety (ABE 330)
Agricultural Employer's Resources for Safety (ABE 331)
Reminder if anyone wants a copy of the Chainsaw Safety ppt., let me know and we will send you a CD.
The National Ag Safety Database: http://www.cdc.gov/nasd

SAFETY NEWS & NOTES is an e-mail newsletter prepared by Carol J. Lehtola, Extension Agricultural Safety Specialist. Design Team FL 124: Prevention and Preparedness: Agricultural Safety & Disaster Management. If you have safety or disaster related questions or ideas that you would like to share with other agents, please let me know. If you know someone interested in receiving this, we will gladly add them to the e-mail list.

BE AWARE! BE ALERT! BE ALIVE!
Florida Ag Safe website: http://www.flagsafe.ufl.edu
Disaster Management Team website: http://it.ifas.ufl.edu/FDM/

Dr. Carol J. Lehtola, Ph.D. Extension Agricultural Safety Specialist Associate Professor Dept. of Agricultural & Biological Engineering
PO Box 110570 The University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611-0570
352-392-1864 x223 FAX: 352-392-4092

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