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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1990-07-25, Page 6Fuge • w Selatiork *o y, ittly 211, National Farm Safety Week A momentary lapse in being safety conscious changed this man's life For Harvey Hort of Township, October , l*, is a dally he will never forget On that fay Mr.. Hodgins became a farm acci- dent victim. He was of course not the est, and unfortunately he w not he ,the last person injured or killed as a result of a farm mai* dent. However, through the of the. Canada Safety. Council, Agriculture Canada, Firestone Canada Inc, John Deere l<ed and area Safety Associations tip numbers are declining. Yarm Safety Week is July 25 - 31 and the eampaign. aims to promote education,, training and safer operating practices on the fad: with the objective of reduldole fatalities and injuries on the farm wherepeople and machines are •; involved. • • Mr. Hodgins attended the Media Day, ;sponsored by the, Huron Coun- ty Yin and Home Safety A. tion in Clinton last week, at which. time he reiterated the happenings of October 6, 1989. On that fateful day, as he and his sons were winding up the last of their ensilage,one of the self - unloading forage wagons "plugged: Mr. Hodgins entered the wagon, ralved the palm and stood wilt, the wagon emptied. Being the load, he took one swish with his toot towards the auger to ab�6ret thatlast" little bat". Within seconds Mr. Ham.' left leg was drawn into the ager. His sap sitting .on "the tractor never heard him yell, but some noise alerted him something was wrong: Although 64 years of age at the time or the .accident, Mr. Hodgins was . (and, still is) a very active man." He and and his wife: loved dancing. His first thought Was that, he ha& `lett his:. foot, but withain ponds he was thinking, "I'm still *alive. From those who listened to Mr.` Modgina'story, it is evident it was his positive attitude and" the far that he was a healthy man got. h through 42 days in thehospitalan& a series of nine .operations, He lost hia leg a few inches below the• knee. For him the mental pain was at times harder to endure than the. physical pain., .The ,physical pain could , be relieved with injections; the mental anguish was something he had to deal vith biimself. During his, re labilitation, Mr. Hemhos gone a series 4 of what he a limbs"; learning how to walk with them,. ,. which was no easy . task. The leg, iteepa siwinld, . but ` heDopes to have his permanent artificial limb by this winter. He still has Flan* tom pains where his foot would be, The major _ problem for Mr. HWns now is a taw that doesn't :LfGU�rR Therapy has not Un- proved the knee movement, but he makes do, saying he has learned how to work around it. It is Pessible to .sit in the back seat of a car, unless he can stretch his legs. across the seat. Ile still milks the cows, drives tire tractor~ and he and• his wife still take tothe dance flops as oftenas possible. Although Mr. Hodgins Is +missing part of limb, he strese,s the fact he was lucky to be a victim rather than a, fatality of a farm related' accident, One split .second during harvesting season changed this man's life. BYIeiling his .story, he. hopes to impress : upon other fanners that being safety muck= is a full time resiionsibility, one that ifvaried from can have dead-. ly results: HarvelHodgins of ,Stephen Township govt: hbt •plersoaoal testitaony at the mettle day sponsored by the Huron County Yarns and Safety Association last ' week. Mr. Hodgins loot part of one leg while working in a self.. uulosdhig forage wagon. (Pat Livingston photo) Farm Safety Week Is July ?S to 31 and at a recent media day various scenes were staged to show how farm accidents occur. The most severe far= accidents often involve machinery. No riders - should be a firm rule as is 'evidenced by simulated accident where the dummy was riding on the fender, falls off and is run over. (Pat Livingston photo) • You'll Find It At... ' •1 Er GODERICH KINCARDINE 524-6901 396-7012 FAMILY FUN! do GAMES • TOYS •- HOBBIES • MORE! This simulated accident.showshow quickly a person can become a victim of a farm accident. The doll inside the grain bin was quickly drawn down into the grain. Most victims of this type of accident are under 16 years of age - don't allow youngsters to enter grain transport equipment. (Pat Livingston photo) Farm, machinery check list ❑ Do you transport your auger/elevator in the down posi- tion to avoid tipping? ❑ Do you slow down before mak- ing aking sharp turns to avoid upsets? ❑ Have you checked for obstacles such as large stones, stumps, etc., before working in the field? ❑ Are you pulling only what your tractor can safely handle? ❑ Do you have proper ety chain hook up when to ' _ :, ' uip- ment on roadways? ❑ Do you take a break for safe- ty sake? Remember a tired worker is a less alert worker. ❑ Do you instruct children and visitors on how to safely manage 'themselves around farm machinery? ❑ Do you keep a fully charged • fire extinguisher handy at all times? MEMO DESIGNING o r specialty... CUMBI1VED\SUMMER SERVICE SCHEDULE r ..' 3 parkins SC., Walkerton Large Display of moniments & •markers. For more information calf Sam or Grant 881-0234 July 29 - "The Kirkin Ci' the Tartan" Service Speaker: Reverend M. Kinsman --- Aug. 5 - Lucknow Presbyterian Church Speaker: Reverend G. McFarlane Aug. 12 - 19 26 = Lucknow United Church September 2 , Speaker: Reverend G. McFarlane Nursery Provided All SERVICES AT 10;00 A.M. ❑ Do you wear personal protec- tive equipment such as bump caps, goggles, work boots, etc., to prevent bodily harm? O Do you wear well -fitted clothes to ensure your safety around farm machinery? O Are roll-over protective systems installed to ensure safety in case of tractor overturn? ❑ Do you maintain "No Riders" rule on all farm equipment? © Ido you keep your loader bucket close to ground when transporting? - ❑ Are power take -offs and .guard shields in place to prevent injury? ❑ Do you avoid sudden starts and stops and excessive speed to en- sure •safe transportation? ❑ Do you shut off the engine and take the key before entering anything like a combine grain tank or forage box? ❑ Do you train all farm workers to safely operate and handle all farm machinery? ❑ Do you turn off the power before you adjust, unclog or ser- vice a smachine? O Do you ensure that your equip- ment is securely blocked before working around or under the. Lachine? O To avoid being electrocuted do you check for overhead power lines when operating, transporting augers/elevators? • i {?•�i�` ,P'. a ;a_ •a11 > ► - "p 0 •