Vol 5., No. 9, September 2004

 Contents

 

THOUGHTS & QUOTES

"Personalization of the risk and access to the means for change...”

...are two factors essential for promoting behavioral changes for safety. Personalization of the risk shows people that, indeed, it can happen to them. We always think that things happen to someone else. There was a quote in a ROPS promotional video produced by then Case-IH in which a youth had overturned a tractor with a ROPS and came out fine. His father said, “You never think it can happen to you. You read about it happening to someone else...but all it takes is once!” Personalization of the risk can be in the form of first-person testimonials, localized statistics, teachable moment stories, etc. I frequently use the Rhythm of the Seasons book and video as a means for putting real faces on the statistics.

Once we have people’s attention, then they want to know what they can do about it. That is when we need to be able to provide access to the means for change. This can be in the form of economics, local availability, etc., that makes things easier to obtain. People are often like rivers, following the path of least resistance. Put an obstacle in our path and we will procrastinate!

An example of providing the means for change is agribusinesses making personal protective equipment (PPE) available at the point of sale of products requiring it. One is more likely to add the PPE to the pesticide purchase than to go out of the way to another store to purchase it. In another example, tractor dealers can have ROPS available for installation as a convenience for the tractor owner. Or educators can use the opportunity to have their audience take some time to make an action plan. When people have personalized the risk, they want to DO something about it – use that opportunity to promote action for lessening risk.

This issue of SN&N contains information about two programs for lessening environmental risk hazards -– the Farm*A*Syst and Home*A*Syst programs. For farm safety audiences, the Rhythm of the Seasons/IMBY program can be used – see the Florida AgSafe Web site <http://www.flagsafe.ufl.edu>.

A final note: September 19-25 is National Farm Safety and Health Week. For links and information, see the August issue of SN&N at the Florida AgSafe Web site <http://flagsafe.ufl.edu>.

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OSHA Provides Safety Information for Hurricane Clean-up Workers

Safety and health experts from OSHA are on the ground in Florida providing technical assistance to thousands of workers involved in clean-up and recovery operations in the wake of Hurricanes Charley and Francis. OSHA Administrator John Henshaw said OSHA's presence is making a difference by providing important information on a myriad of safety issues, including electrical work, fall protection, and the safe operation of chain saws. Henshaw recorded public service announcements on specific hazards workers are routinely exposed to. The agency has developed a special page on its Web site to provide information and resources to ensure workers safety during these operations. The site includes PSAs in English and Spanish.
Visit: <http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/hurricaneRecovery.html>.

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October is Fire Safety Month

Fire Prevention Week is October 3-9 – A good time to check your smoke alarms!

The following series of fact sheets -- Fire Stops with You, Fire Safety Information for Manufactured Housing and During or After a Disaster -- offer important fire safety tips on a wide variety of topics. USFA has tailored each fact sheet to a specific audience (e.g., children, the elderly, college students, rural and urban populations) or fire risk (e.g., natural disasters, holiday season, security bars, alternative heating, etc.). There are more than 30 fact sheets available at: <http://www.usfa.fema.gov/public/factsheets/safety.shtm> in both English and Spanish.

An interactive kids page about fire safety is at: <http://www.usfa.fema.gov/kids/>. The site includes a parent/teachers section with tips for using the site and teaching your kids or students.

Fire safety info for businesses can be found at OSHA at: <http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/firesafety/>.

Agriculture-specific fire safety information is on the National Ag Safety Database at: <http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/menu/topic/fire_safety.html>. How about taking time during the week of October 3-9 to take a quick scan of the documents that apply to your home, ranch, or farmstead?

Remember to check the information about equipment fires. Debris and dry materials can accumulate near hot engine parts when operating combines, balers, and cotton harvesters (as well as other equipment), leading to fires.

A document about preventing hay fires, which can be caused by spontaneous combustion is on NASD at: <http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000701-d000800/d000758/d000758.html>.

A recent barn fire in Florida, in which 11 horses died, may have been caused by spontaneous combustion of wood chips stored in a barn. Read the complete news article at <http://www.flagsafe.ufl.edu/clippings/barn-fire-2004-09-04.html>.

People with horses should have a rescue plan. Horses would rather go back to their stall than get out. For more information, read this fact sheet from the Humane Society of the United States: "Disaster Preparedness for Horse Owners Including Barn Fires Prevention and Preparedness" <http://www.hsus.org/ace/18734>.

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GM Pulls Corvette Ad

GM aired a corvette ad during the Olympics that showed a 10-year-old having a fantasy dream of driving, in many unsafe ways, a corvette. Several safety groups protested and GM did pull the ad. It wasn’t the idea of dreaming that was the problem, it was the message sent to children that it would be ok to drive a car. The number of kids who get into cars, thinking that they can just get in a vehicle and drive it, have led to deaths and injuries of themselves or others. For the complete article see: <http://money.cnn.com/2004/08/25/pf/autos/gm_corvette.reut/>.

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Meth Labs Increase in Rural America (Landlord Liabilities)

The problem is not only the production of the meth, but landlords need to be aware of who they are renting property to. If a meth lab is found, the landlord can bear the cost of clean-up or a loss of property destroyed in a meth-production-related explosion. Meth lab clean-up is considered to be clean-up of a toxic site and can cost $5,000-$10,000.

Also, before purchasing property, one should verify that it hasn’t been used as a meth lab, or the new owner could get stuck with the clean up bill. For complete details about property concerns with former meth labs see: <http://www.kci.org/meth_info/meth_cleanup.htm>.

An article on the National Public Radio Web site highlights the increasing trend of meth labs and meth use in rural areas.

The article, dated August 12, 2004, states, “One of the nation's most dangerous drugs is increasingly found in the most unexpected places. The government's latest studies indicate the production and use of methamphetamine -- an addictive stimulant also known as speed -- is escalating, especially in rural areas.

Meth is often made using anhydrous ammonia -- also used by farmers for fertilizer. Thefts of anhydrous ammonia storage units have prompted law enforcement officials in some areas to urge farmers to lock their tanks.

The complete article and links to related news article (including use in National Forests) can be found at: <http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=3805074>.

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Check out ‘Safety -- Must Forward’ Messages

Ever gotten one of those e-mail safety messages from a friend that tells you to forward to family and friends? Before you pass them along, visit the Urban Legends Reference Pages at <http://www.snopes.com> to see if a message you receive is legitimate or a hoax as well as read background information.

Recently, there was a message going around about the fire hazard of plug-in air fresheners: <http://www.snopes.com/toxins/glade.asp>. According to the information on the Urban Legends Reference Pages, the exact status of this message has not been determined, but some plug-in air fresheners have been implicated in house fires and there have been some product recalls associated with the popular devices. The plug-in freshener described in the e-mail message was never the subject of a recall. The message itself is unsigned and gives no names or locations -- a classic feature of e-mail hoaxes. Later versions of the message may have names added.

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Equestrian Helmet Usage

Head injuries account for approximately 60% of deaths resulting from equestrian-related incidents. For complete information, visit the Web site of the American Riding Instructors Association: <http://www.riding-instructor.com/helmets.htm>.

An activity that can be used with youth, such as 4-H clubs, that teaches helmet usage is “Heather on Horseback”. This interactive narrative story was developed at the University of Florida and the University of Kentucky.

"Heather on Horseback" is about a 13-year-old girl who is learning to ride a horse. She is upset that her dad is leaving for a business trip. She begins riding her horse fast, without a helmet or supervision. She is thrown and suffers a severe head injury and a permanent disability. Summaries of many similar cases are included along with a Web site address that regularly publishes these cases. The complete activity with story, answers, and facts is found at: <http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000901-d001000/d000997/9.html>.

A bulletin, “Equestrian Safety: A Guide to Promotion of Helmet Use for Riding Clubs and Communities” can be found at: <http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/em4849/em4849.pdf>.

An idea for a 4-H safety demonstration on helmet safety could include using the Jello brain mold (check Google for "jello brain mold" for ordering options) and showing what happens with and without a helmet.

More information is available at the National Children’s Center site in their program, “Every Ride, Every Time.” This incudes a video that can be purchased for $15.
Visit: <http://research.marshfieldclinic.org/children/Resources/Equestrian/Everytime.htm>.

Additional notes about this topic are in the July 2003 issue of SN&N.

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Farm *A*Syst and Home*A*Syst Risk Assessments

Farm*A*Syst can help you determine what risks -- whether from livestock waste disposal, pesticide management or petroleum storage -- could threaten your family's health and financial security. A system of step-by-step fact sheets and worksheets helps you to identify the behaviors and practices that are creating those risks. The complete program is at: <http://www.uwex.edu/farmasyst/>.

In every home--large or small, new or old, city or country--there are potential risks to your family's health and the environment. Home*A*Syst helps you identify these risks and take action. The complete program is at: <http://www.uwex.edu/homeasyst/>.

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Covering Abandoned Wells & Cisterns

Have an abandoned well on your property or workplace? A well can be considered abandoned if:

  • its use has been permanently discontinued;
  • it is in such disrepair that its continued use for obtaining groundwater is impractical;
  • it has been left uncompleted;
  • it is a threat to groundwater resources; or,
  • it is or may be a health or safety hazard.

Abandoned wells can be found almost anywhere: on farms, industrial sites, and in urban areas. Those marked by windmill towers and old hand pumps are easy to spot. However, many are hidden beneath weeds and brush or are buried below grade.
 
Hazards posed include:

  • bacteria and pesticides can enter them and contaminate groundwater;
  • people or animals can become trapped in them;
  • people could stumble on wells hidden beneath grass or brush;
  • farm equipment operators could mistakenly drive over them.

Take a minute to check if one of these may be on your property – often they are overlooked by their very nature – ‘out of sight, out of mind’!

What can you do? Open, abandoned wells are a safety hazard. Consider these tips to reduce your risks:

  • Locate all abandoned wells in your operation. Look closely around old homesteads or buildings used for livestock.
  • When you rent new property, contact landowners about well locations.
  • Discuss location and dangers of abandoned wells with all family members and workers.
  • Make sure all active and "standby" wells are in good repair and do not permit entry of contaminants.
  • Get bids from certified well contractors to plug wells that are in bad repair or will not be used again.

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Guest Editorial in Journal of Ag Safety and Health

“Buzz Factor of One”, by Carol J. Lehtola, is the guest editorial in the August issue of the Journal of Ag Safety and Health. The article promotes the idea of the ‘power of one’. The title was taken from the idea behind the saying, “If you think you are too small to be effective, you’ve never been in bed with a mosquito.” Several examples are given of people who could have remained frustrated with improper depictions of agriculture and unsafe practices or who saw a need to do something about improving safety on America’s farms. The article is summarized by stating, “These examples show that a small number of voices speaking in unison can make a difference. So instead of staying frustrated, reach for the phone or the pen. You, too, can make a difference!”

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SAFETY NEWS & NOTES is an e-mail newsletter prepared by Carol J. Lehtola, Extension Agricultural Safety Specialist and team leader for the Prevention and Preparedness: Agricultural Safety & Disaster Management program. Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, UF/IFAS. If you have safety- or disaster-related questions or ideas that you would like to share with other agents, please contact Dr. Lehtola. If you know someone interested in receiving this newsletter, we will gladly add them to the e-mail list. Past issues of Safety News & Notes are archived on the Florida AgSafe Web site.

Florida AgSafe Web site: http://www.flagsafe.ufl.edu

The Disaster Handbook: http://disaster.ifas.ufl.edu

National Agricultural Safety Database: http://www.cdc.gov/nasd

Extension Disaster Education Network: http://www.agctr.lsu.edu/eden