HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1972-07-26, Page 7FARM SAFETY
WEEK
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Fewer farmers but
accidents increase
P.
4'
ID011'T LET CARELESSNESS REAP A
GRIM HARVEST OF COSTLY, FATAL ACCIDENTS
ON YOUR FARM!
The accidental death rate on
the farm is 20 per cent higher,
by estimate, than the national
average, according to the Canada.
Safety Council.
In its national campaign,
Farm Safety Week, July 25 to
31, the Council stresses the need
for more safety practices and
caution in everyday farm activi-
ties. The campaign is co-spon-
sored by the Canadian Farm and
Industrial Equipment Institute.
The need for such a campaign
is underlined by the fact that,
while the farm accident rate is
higher than the average for
Canada, the percentage of Canad-
ians engaged in farming has been
declining.
The paradoxical ratio of a
high farm accident rate to a de-
creasing percentage of the
population in farming is partly
explained by the increasing use
of more powerful and complicated
machinery. But the basic cause
of accidents — on the farm or
off -- is human neglect of safety
procedures and thoughtlessness
by farm residents themselves.
In one year accidents take the
lives of approximately 1,400
Canadian farm and rural resi-
dents. They injure about 25,000
of them and permanently disable
around 1,500.
Studies show that farm
machinery fatalities per 100,000
farmers doubled in the past de-
cade. Of all fatal machinery
accidents, for example, '78 per
cent involve tractors and of these
more than half are overturn
accidents.
Following the tractor, farm
machines most commonly
involved in fatal accidents are
combines, balers, corn pickers,
forage harvesters and
spreaders.
The principal type of farm
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machinery accident involves the
victim being caught in machines
or being crushed. Many farmers
fail to keep guards and shielding
in plaCe or they attempt to
service equipment while it is
under poWer. In some accidents
they have fallen from moving
equipment.
According to national studies,
72 per cent of accidents involving
rural residents occur on the farm
or in the farm home and 28 per
cent off the farm.
On the farm, 45 per cent of
the accidents happen in the farm
yard, 28 per cent in the field
and 27 per cent in and around the
home. Off the farm, 42 per cent
are on main highways, 30 per cent
on secondary roads and 28 per
cent elsewhere.
Youngsters are distressingly
significant in the farm accident
statistics. Ten per cent of farm
machinery deaths occur in the
under-10 age group. A further
16 per cent involve the 10-19
age group, all of whom are killed
in overturns or are crushed.
"Children and young people
who lack the physical capacity,
experience and judgement, should
:lot be permitted to operate trac-
tors and farm machinery", is
the warning given by the Canada
Safety Council and the Canadian
Farm and Industrial Equipment
Institute.
The organizations also point
out that the practice of allowing
children or even adults to ride
as passengers on tractors and
farm equipment should not be
permitted.
Fuels, oils and greases re-
quire safe handling too.
Accidents result in lack of
knowledge and carelessness in
the handling and storage of petro-
leum products and in refueling
equipment. Some farmers, their
employees and families still
forget to turn off switches while
fueling is being carried out.
Another example of fire danger
is the re-starting of a hot motor
when fuel has been spilled on it
or near it.
In the farm home, common
types of accidents are falls, fire,
poisoning and suffocation.Making
a home neater and more orderly
makes it safer. The handling of
agricultural chemicals is another
activity that can cause poisoning
accidents when proper pro-
cedures and storing are not kept
in mind.
In its plea to all farm and
other rural residents to help
"weed out farm hazards", the
Canada Safety Council points out
that the responsibility of prevent-
ing the accidents rests with
everyone engaged directly or in-
directly with the farming
industry.
4
Every year, thousands of lives are lost and thousands of
persons are injured in accidents on the farm. These accidents
cause suffering, disabilities and , financial hardship to the
families involved, as well as reducing the productive capac-
ity of our farm industry. No farmer can afford not to practice
farm safety!
THE BRUSSELS POST, JULY 26, 1972-7