Vol 6., No. 9, September 2005

 Contents

 

THOUGHTS & QUOTES

Harvesting Safety & Health……..

…….is the theme for Farm Safety and Health Week 2005 which is this week, Sept. 18–24. President George Bush has issued a proclamation calling all concerned with the agricultural community to "continue strengthening their commitment to promoting farm safety and health programs."

Although Farm Safety & Health Week occurs only one week out of the year, farm safety and health should be a consideration every day of the year. For a "short and sweet" version of safety reminders that can be reviewed frequently see the tailgate series of safety facts at: http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/menu/state/ohio.html. (There are 85 topics in English & Spanish).

The theme for the 2005 annual conference of the National Institute for Farm Safety (NIFS) was “Prepare to Prevent,” which focused on preparing with balance. That is making sure that our workers are safe on a day-to-day basis and also that farm families can be safe while enjoying their means of livelihood and surroundings. Safety doesn’t have to take the fun out of things! “Prepare to Prevent” covered issues and risks of agroterrorism as well as the issues and risks associated with safety, health and liability for agrotourism enterprises.

We also need to be able to prepare to react, respond to, and recover from potential threats and acts that could occur -– locally, regionally, state-wide, or nationally. Whether from a disgruntled employee or from an organized group, maintaining a safe food supply can have an impact on everyone -– producers as well as the general public. However, we walk a fine line of balance between "having a healthy respect for and knowledge of potential risks and creating panic in the streets." Producers and individuals need to have an increased awareness of normal vs. abnormal activities.

For more background information on issues of agroterrorism, see the information (in this issue of SN&N) about the CD available from the University of Kentucky.

Also, just a reminder that the training materials that we published on chemical and security issues, "Agrochemicals and Security," can be found at the Disaster Handbook Web site and checking under "Other Disaster Related Products."

Remember

“Be Aware! Be Alert! Be Alive! ….. in ‘05

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What’s New on NASD

Check out ‘What’s New” on NASD at: http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/whatsnew.html for new materials. Included are the videos for kids visiting farms or petting zoos. Also, there are Spanish documents and resources. Note the Safer Tractor Operations Series for several additional audiences that are now included in NASD. New publications include the following:

Also, if you have materials that you think are applicable for NASD, let us know. Thanks.

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Agroterrorism CD from the University of Kentucky

Target Audience: Farmers, 4-H and FFA members, Extension personnel, Federal, state and local emergency public safety, law enforcement, emergency response, emergency medical (including hospital emergency facilities), and related personnel, agencies, and authorities.
Course Material: Provides a basic understanding of agroterrorism, including the definition of agroterrorism, vulnerabilities of crops, livestock, and food supplies, appreciation of the risks associated with consolidation of agriculture and food production, the difference between an intentional and unintentional event, measures to plan for and respond to problems in the food supply or agriculture, things you can do to prevent, detect, and respond to problems, pests and pathogens that could be used by terrorists to cause plant health disorders, animal diseases that could be used in agroterrorism attacks, what to do at home, school, or work to prepare for emergencies, and how prevention and preparedness measures work at local, state, and federal levels.

1-Hour and 4-Hour courses are both available on one CD-ROM. The 1-hour agroterrorism training ("general") is a general awareness couse. The 4-hour training ("extension") is certified by the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services. The information is at: http://www.kiprc.uky.edu/trap/agro/

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Trenching Safety Pocket Card

A trenching safety pocket card (English and Spanish) is available at: http://www.osha.gov/Publications/trench/trench_safety_tips_card.pdf. If not shored or otherwise protected, trenches can easily cave-in. Often, a trench collapse involves multiple fatalities -– those in the trench and would-be rescuers as well.

This OSHA Web page has more in-depth information about trenching and excavating safety: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/trenchingexcavation/. Digging trenches is done not only on formal construction sites, but may also be done on farms and ranches, such as when digging for water lines, burying electrical lines, etc.

When burying any utilities on private property, it is a good idea to keep photos and a diagram of the location with the farm records. Remember to call before you dig. In Florida, the number is 800-432-4770. Call two full business days before digging. Call 10 days before digging when digging under water. Wait the required time for buried utilities to be located and marked. Protect the marks during your project. If marks are destroyed, call again. Dig safely, using extreme caution when digging within 24 inches on either side of the marks to avoid hitting the buried utility lines. Detailed information can be found at: http://www.callsunshine.com/corp/.

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Health & Safety for Older Workers

The National Academies Press has released a new publication titled “Health and Safety Needs of Older Workers.”  
Although the publication has a general purpose, it does discuss farming in a number of places. The on-line version of the book is searchable and can be found at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10884.html.

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Rural Assistance Center

In December 2002, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ established a rural initiative, the Rural Assistance Center. The RAC is a rural health and human services "information portal." RAC helps rural communities and other rural stakeholders access the full range of available programs, funding, and research that can enable them to provide quality health and human services to rural residents. 

RAC Home Page: http://www.raconline.org/
Safety information is at: http://www.raconline.org/info_guides/agri_health/

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Keeping Kids Safe

Here are some great age-related safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics: http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/genlsafe.htm. It includes information for those who may live on or visit a farm. Just because one doesn't live on a farm doesn't mean that one shouldn't know how to be safe at one. One-third to one-half of childhood agricultural injuries happen to children who are just visiting a farm or ranch.

Other resources that are helpful, especially for kids visiting farms are: “Visiting A Farm? Be Safe and Sound Says Safety Hound” video. It can be seen in its entirety on NASD at: http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/videos/v000001-v000100/v000025.html.

The video “Livestock Safety for Kids” can be seen at: http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/videos/v001401-v001500/v001434.html (also Spanish).

Two publications are: “Childproofing Your Yard or Farmstead” (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AE166) and the interactive story “Vicki’s Visit” (http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000901-d001000/d000997/9.html).

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October is Fire Safety Month

Candles may look nice, but they’re a growing fire threat in our communities. Knowing the facts about candles is a key to fire safety. That’s why NFPA has chosen “Use Candles with Care” as the theme for Fire Prevention Week, October 9-15. The Web site of the National Fire Protection Association has useful information that has been developed for teachers, families, children, firefighters, and the general public. A number of posters, articles, and activities are available on the NFPA Web site.

Firesafety.gov (http://www.firesafety.gov/) is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the U.S. Fire Administration. Firesafety.gov contains information for the following audiences: the general public; at risk populations including elderly and disabled; fire services personnel; and the media. Information is also provided in Spanish.

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State Agricultural Response Team (SART) Newsletter

The current issue of the SART Sentinel can be viewed at: www.flsart.org. Past issues are also archived on the site.

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Gardens as a Source of Infectious Disease

"Gardens as a source of infectious disease: Reducing the risk” is a publication prepared by John McLaughin, Miami-Dade County Extension. This should be of interest to gardeners in general as well as small nursery owners.

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Precautions, Resources on Storm, Flood Clean-Up Spotlighted

Precautions for working safely during storm and flood clean-up, and resources for assessing and addressing potential clean-up risks are spotlighted on the NIOSH Web page. Preventing injury, illness, and death from electrical hazards, carbon monoxide, and heat stress are among the issues highlighted. These resources are designed to be useful in the field for workers involved in clean-ups such as those that will follow in the wake of the devastation in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast from Hurricane Katrina. The storm and flood clean-up page can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/flood.

-- from Sept. 2005 NIOSH e-news

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Tractor Safety for Disaster Recovery

A tri-fold fact sheet on Tractor Safety for Disaster Recovery can be downloaded and printed from the Florida AgSafe Web site: www.flagsafe.ufl.edu.

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Tow Ropes & Chains

Safe Use of Tow Ropes, Cables, and Chains can be found on NASD at: http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000901-d001000/d000945/d000945.html.

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Farm Dump Truck and Trailer Safety

The fact sheet "Farm Dump Truck and Trailer Safety" has recently been published by Dennis Murphy, Pennsylvania State University Extension, covering dump truck and trailer safety. Included are the hazards of tipping while unloading, working under a raised truck or trailer bed, and contact with overhead power lines. Much of this information is also applicable to the use of goats in the citrus industry. On the Web at: http://www.age.psu.edu/ASH/Factsheets/E44.pdf.

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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://eden.lsu.edu/

Florida State Agricultural Response Team (SART): http://www.flsart.org