The Rural Voice, 2003-08, Page 65BRUCE
Email: bruce@ofa.on.ca
website: www.ofa.on.ca/bruce
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
• The Rural Voice is provided to Bruce
County Farmers by the BCFA.
'With the harvest season in full
swing rushing to beat the weather or
fatigue of long hours can lead to
potential accidents and injury.
Following are a few pointers to keep
in mind this harvest season.
• Always disengage the PTO and shut
off the tractor/harvester before
working on equipment. Allow the
machine to stop before hooking up
wagons.
• Doors and shields should be tightly
latched to deflect objects thrown by
the cutter.
• Stay well clear of the discharge
spout while the harvester is
operating. To avoid being hit by
objects from the spout, completely
stop the machine before hooking up
wagons.
• Components may continue to rotate
for several minutes after the power is
shut off. Do not open doors until all
parts have stopped moving.
Bruce County Federation of Agriculture
62ND ANNUAL MEETING
AND BANQUET AND OFA
REGIONAL MEETING
Friday, October 24, 2003
Royal Canadian Legion, Kincardine
Social: 6:30 p.m. Dinner 7:00 p.m.
Guest Speaker: Gordon Hill
Note OFA Regional Directors, Delegates and
Alternates for OFA Convention, BCFA Presidents and
Township Directors will be elected at the meeting.
MYTHS ABOUT LIGHTNING
Myths and m s -perceptions about lightning can
add to the contusion.
True or false?
See just how enlightened you are:
Lightning always strikes the tallest object.
False. Lightning strikes the best conductor on
the ground, not necessarily the tallest object. In
some cases, the best conductor might be a
human being.
A car's rubber tires give protection from
lightning.
False. Actually, the car itself is very well
insulated and offers more protection than being
outside in the storm. Of course the exception to
this is the convertible, which provides virtually no
protection.
Lightning never strikes the same place twice.
False. Tell that one to the CN tower in
Toronto, which is struck by lightning many times a
year.0
62 THE RURAL VOICE
A safe harvest
• Knives must be kept sharp and
properly balanced for safe, effective
operation. Follow maintenance
procedures specified in the owner's
manual.
• Safe completion of any task
depends on knowledge, alertness and
hazard awareness.
• Fatigue. drowsiness and illness can
lead to mishaps in the field.
Recognize when you have had
enough, and turn the operation over
to some else.
• Adverse weather adds to harvesting
pressure. Do not rely on stimulants to
keep you going or depressants to
calm your nerves.
• Equipment operators should be
dressed for comfort and safety.
Protective footwear and close -fitting
clothes are essentials when working
Bruce County Federation of Agriculture
DIRECTORS' MEETING
MONDAY, AUGUST 25 — 8:00 P.M.
Sprucedale Agromart
R.R. #2, Walkerton - 25th sideroad Brant (north
off of former Hwy.#4 - east of Walkerton)
Members are welcome to attend
in and around machinery. Wear
appropriate safety gear if noise, dust
or toxic materials pose hazards.
• Do not allow children around
machinery. For too many tragedies
occur when youngsters end up in the
path of equipment and operators have
a restricted view.
• Heavy crops, rough terrain, and too
high a speed can cause clogging or
plugging. The more this occurs, the
more the operator is tempted to leave
the machine and tractor running.
For more details on harvest safely
visit the Farm Safety Association
website at www.farmsafety.ca
BY-LAW 4015
The Bruce County Forest Conservation
By -Law No. 4015 came into effect on May
8, 2003. Members wishing to comment on
the By -Law, please contact our office in
Hanover at 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-
9551. For a copy of the By -Law please
contact the County of Bruce Office in
Walkerton at 519-881-1782 or the Wiarton
Office at 519-534-2092.0
Enuironmental farm Plan Workshop
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Contact: Jayne Dietrich, Bruce County EFP Co-ordinator to register and for location
Telephone/Fax: 519-367-5930 Email: dietrich@bmts.com
Please Note: Anyone with incomplete books please call and arrange an appointment to finalize
your EFP in order to maximize funding opportunities available to December 31, 2003.
Lightning safety for outdoor workers
If you can see lightning or hear thunder, activate your safety plan. Resume activities only when lightning
and thunder have not been observed for 30 minutes.
Preparedness can reduce the risk of the lightning hazard and raise safety levels. Advance planning is the
single most important means to achieve lightning safety. The following steps are suggested:
1. Designate a responsible person to monitor weather conditions and make supervisory decisions.
2. Your emergency procedure should include: suspend activities - evacuate people - monitor conditions -
resume activities. Identify safe and unsafe locations beforehand.
3. People who have been struck by lightning do not carry an electrical charge and are safe to be handled.
Apply First Aid immediately it you are qualified to do so. Get emergency help promptly.
SAFE AREAS INCLUDE:
a. Fully enclosed metal vehicles with windows up.
b. Substantial and permanent buildings.
UNSAFE AREAS INCLUDE:
a. Small structures including huts and rain shelters.
b. Nearby metallic objects like fences, gates, instrumentation and electrical equipment, wires and power poles.
c. Also - AVOID trees, AVOID water, AVOID open fields, AVOID using the (hard wired) telephone and
headsets.
LIGHTNING SAFETY CROUCH
If hopelessly isolated from shelter during close -in lightning, adopt a low crouching position with feet
together and hands on ears.0 - National Lightning Safety Institute