Vol 9, No. 8, November 2008

Contents Thoughts & Quotes Tractor Safety Reminders Poison Control Updates from October SN&N English & Spanish Back Strain & Other Safety Topics (Posters/Novellas) Day after Thanksgiving Biggest Day for Plumber Calls Ladder Falls During the Holidays Falling Objects Hazards During the Holidays Holiday Visitors to the Farm or Acreage Winter Fire Safety About Safety News & Notes

---

THOUGHTS & QUOTES

[top]

Tractor Safety Reminders

This is the time of year when many tractor safety programs are presented. Just a reminder about the various resources we have including some videos that are on NASD in their entirety: Mowing Safety (rotary mowers) Mowing Safety (disc mowers) A Tractor Accident Can Happen to Anyone Tractor Safety Publications on the Florida AgSafe Web site: Jeopardy game related to tractors and machinery Safer Tractor Operations Series ...for Agricultural Employers ...for Farm Workers/Employees ...for Florida's Privately Owned and Operated Farms and Ranches ...for Home and Acreage Owners Safer Tractor Operations Fact Sheets Series Avoid the Invisible Hazard: Know about Soil Shear Lines Filling Gas Cans Safely Ready or Not? Get Ready with a Tractor Operator Checklist Shortcuts are Short-Sighted, or Invest Seconds, Save Lives! When Two's a Crowd: Dangers of Extra Riders on Tractors Yee-Haa! Formula for a Successful Tractor Rodeo Hand-me-down Hazards: Dangers of Used Equipment Getting Started on the Right Foot: Dangers of Bypass Starting Articles about nylon tow ropes: Safe Use of Tow Ropes, Cables and Chains Volunteer Fire Fighter Dies After Being Struck by a Shackle on a Recoiling Tow Rope County Road Worker Died When a Tow Rope Connection Broke Loose and Struck Him in the Head Ten Commandments of Tractor Safety ...in English on the Kubota Web site ...in Spanish on the Farm Employers Labor Service (FELS) Web site

[top]

Poison Control Updates from October SN&N

Florida Poison Information Centers have the look-alike posters, noted in October SN&N, free for anyone who would like them.  Orders can be placed with Wendy Blair Stephan at the Miami Center or with Paige Pruitt at the Jacksonville Center. There is also a Tampa office of the Florida Poison Information Center.

[top]

English & Spanish Back Strain & Other Safety Topics (Posters/Novellas)

The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health offers a series of safety publications in helpful new formats -- posters, pocket cards, and photonovellas (similar to a comic book format). Many of the topics in the series are offered in English, Spanish, and Creole. All the topics are accessible from the main topic page, except back safety. Topics include: Back Strain (novella and pocket card) Footware Safety Hearing Safety Heat and Sun Safety Ladder Safety Lyme Disease Mechanical Hazards Personal Hygiene Poison Ivy Safety Processing Line Safety Safe Lifting and Carrying Safety Glasses Sharp Tool Safety Tractor Safety West Nile Virus Safety

[top]

Day after Thanksgiving Biggest Day for Plumber Calls

The day after Thanksgiving is the number-one day for calls to plumbers, and Christmas isn't far behind. It makes perfect sense: too many cooks in unfamiliar kitchens; too many cooks wondering how many potato peelings can go into the disposer; too many cooks thinking that it is OK to pour lots of turkey grease down the drain; too many guests using too many facilities; too many kids finding it fascinating to flush their action toys! Here are some holiday pointers to keep in mind to avoid clogs, cold showers, and mega-plumber charge$!

[top]

Ladder Falls During the Holidays

A trip to the emergency room can put a damper on any holiday, and one of the top reasons people make this trip is because of fall-related injuries. Standing on a chair to get those last minute decorations in place before the relatives arrive? Using a ladder for the first time in a year to hang lights from the eaves? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have estimated that between 2000 and 2003 over 17,000 people were treated in emergency departments as a direct result of holiday decorating and similar activities. Half of all these injuries involved falling from a ladder or a ladder subsitute, and these incidents resulted in a significant number of fractures, puncture wounds, or strains. This is a good time to review and/or demonstrate the proper way to use ladders. Keep in mind that the ladder itself can present hazards to inexperienced or rushed users, including, splinters (from aging wooden ladders), pinches (watch your fingers), bruises (watch where your going), and strains (from improper lifting). The American Academy of Oethopedic Surgeons offers som excellent advice: Do not drink and decorate! http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5348a1.htm

[top]

Falling Objects Hazards During the Holidays

What goes up must, come down! One holiday hazard people might not think about is the danger of falling objects. Businesses may be especially vulnerable to incidents as they attempt to store as much merchandise as possible for the holiday shopping season. It may not be surprising that most of these incidents occur between October and January, but it may be surprising that there are thousands of these incidents every year. These in-store incidents generally result in injury to the head, feet, back, neck, or shoulders. The potential for incidents of this sort have increased with the increasingly popularity of "retail warehouse" operations. These operations are often housed in tall, single-story buildings that permit "high stacking", which has become a visual trademark of the business. Even a light object falling from these high shelves can carry a significant force when it strikes an object or individual below. Customers (and workers) are exposed to these falling object hazards when merchandise is stacked improperly or when merchandise is removed improperly, creating an unstable situation. Customers may be aware of the danger of falling merchandise in a general way, but there is usually no explicit warning that such a hazard is present. Businesses may stock and unstock shelves without the aid of warning signs, barricades or spotters, creating the impression that these activites are routine and "safe", thus increasing the risk of exposure. Injuries have occurred when merchandise was "pushed through" by customers or workers in the next aisle. Given the number of incidents, falling merchandise has become an important specialty in the area of premises liability law.

[top]

Holiday Visitors to the Farm or Acreage

"Over the hills and through the woods, to grandmother’s farm we go..." Even in the Garfield Cartoon, Jon, Garfield, and Odie often go to visit the family on the farm for the holidays. Over the holidays one may have family and friends visiting your farm or acreage who are not familiar with the hazards that may be present in a rural setting or where agricultural operations are conducted. Now may be a good time to do a walk-around with family members to point out situations that you are all too familiar with, but someone new may not realize are hazards. Develop for yourself a basic farmstead safety checklist. Immediately you'll think of machinery, ladders, etc., but also include animals -– not just large ones, but also family pets. And how about the wildlife who may be lurking in the barn or machine shed? Remember new animal ‘babies’ are cute, but mom can be pretty protective. (You can use the Hazard Identification Guide in the Rhythm of the Season Lesson Plan.) Vicki’s Visit is an interactive story that can be used to point out things that look like giant playgrounds but may be hazardous areas. Childproofing Your Yard or Farmstead lists many specific safeguards that can prevent agricultural equipment or facilities from becoming dangerous "play" areas. Visiting a Farm? Be Safe and Sound Says Safety Hound is a video that can be viewed in its entirety on NASD. It would be good to show to kids before they go to the farm – or as a family when the kids arrive. Perhaps the video could be viewed together with the host family. Then discuss hazards specific to your location.

[top]

Winter Fire Safety

The winter months can be cold and uncomfortable, but they also provide the opportunity for using the fireplace, the fire pit, or for a bonfire. Any time a fire is built, proper safety must be observed. This applies in many situations, from the use of comfort fires and heaters in homes to the use of heating lamps and other devices in barns. All of these situations can bring a source of ignition close to flammable materials, whether fabric, wood, or hay. There are many aspects to fire safety, depending on the heat source. If the source of heat is electric, check all the connections when using the heater for the first time. Sockets, extensions, and the heaters themselves that may not have been used in months may have deterioriated or suffered some kind of damage. (You might have to think back to last season when you made a mental note to replace or repair something and never got around to it.) If the source is kerosene or fuel oil, make sure stores of fuel are stored safely. Position heat sources carefully so that they will not tip over. Protect flammable objects from direct contact with flames. Make sure any space heated with an open flame is properly ventilated. Check chimneys and flues; do they need cleaning before you start using them this season? If the source is wood, observe all the the precautions listed for fuel oil and also take care of yourself. Chopping, storing and piling wood all present hazards. Know the proper use of chopping or cutting tools, whether it's an axe or a chain saw. Moving a lot of wood can result in back strain, so make sure you lift properly and pace yourself appropriately. In every case, you should consider fire alarms and fire suppression equipment. Keep an extinguisher handy and know its proper use. Always be prepared to notify authorities quickly -- by the time you notice a fire in progress, you will only have minutes to take effective action. Another source of fire you may need to consider are haybales or compost heaps that can generate their own internal heat and start fires. Make sure haybales are dry and locate compost heaps away from wooden structures or stores of flammable materials. One last heat source: candles. During the winter months, people use candles in many settings for their decorative effect, but improper use of candles causes many house fires in the winter months. One rule of thumb: Think safety first! Never sacrifice safety for decorative impact. An indoor fire can be out of control in seconds, so make sure one never starts. To get started with using candles safely, follow these rules: Never leave a burning candle unattended Never place a burning candle near something that can catch fire Keep burning candles out of reach of children or pets Additional Information for Agricultural Settings: Fire Safety for Barns Fire Safety in Horse Stables Fire Prevention and Safety Measures around the Farm

[top]

• Florida AgSafe Web site
• The Disaster Handbook
• National Agricultural Safety Database
• Extension Disaster Education Network
• Florida State Agricultural Response Team (SART)