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The Rural Voice, 2004-10, Page 58BRUCE Email: bruce@ota.on.ca website: www.ofa.on.cafbruce 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 OFA Members in Bruce County by the BCFA Be safe as you collect the harvest As another Fall harvest season approaches we will be working longer hours with Tess daylight, since our harvest is being pushed back by the slower maturity. Let's try to make this an accident -free harvest so that every farm family can enjoy Christmas. The following safety tips are provided courtesy of the Ontario Farm Safety Association. Please keep safety in your mind at all times. It can mean your life! HIGHWAY TRAVEL The slow-moving vehicle sign, or SMV, should only be mounted on vehicles that will be traveling at 40 km per hour or less. The familiar, triangular fluorescent sign must never be used for any other purpose. Don't mount an SMV on the back of a pickup, or on the rear of an implement that will be towed at a speed faster than 40 "clicks". And never, ever use the SMV as a laneway marker. The Farm Safety Association reminds you that everyone's safety depends on proper display of this highly visible warning sign. Road travel with farm equipment can be perilous at the best of times. The Farm Safety Association reminds you to prepare all equipment for highway travel before you set out. Towed Toads should be secured with locked, safety drawpins. A safety chain connected to the tractor and the frame of the towed machine provides a backup in case of drawpin failure. Lock tractor brakes together. Check the condition of all tires. Make sure that all lights are working properly, and that a slow moving vehicle sign is properly mounted on the rearmost vehicle. PROTECTIVE CLOTHING Do you "dress up" for safety? According to the Farm Safety Association, proper clothing plays a significant role in preventing entanglement with farm machinery, as PLEASE NOTE: There will be NO Board of Directors' meeting in October because of the Annual Meeting. Next Board Meeting will be Monday, November 15, 2004. 54 THE RURAL VOICE well as protecting you from the elements. Get rid of items that are baggy, torn, or too long. Eliminate draw strings and other dangling add-ons. Make it a habit to button up and zip up. Always wear slip -resistant safety footwear. Keep long hair tied up and under your hat. Use appropriate personal protective equipment — such as safety glasses, hearing protection, and respirators — to protect yourself against the hazards presented by each job. FATIGUE Long hours in the field can lead to physical and mental exhaustion. Farmers often try to push themselves beyond the limits of fatigue, particularly during planting and harvesting. You are more likely to make mistakes under these circumstances. Loss of muscle power and control, lessening of attention, slowdown of reactions, and loss of sensitivity make you more accident prone. To reduce fatigue, the Farm Safety Association urges farmers to get enough rest, eat properly, and keep fluid levels up by drinking plenty of water. Frequent short pauses are more effective than longer rests at wider intervals. MAINTENANCE Accidents are less likely to happen if farm equipment is maintained in top- notch operating condition. The Farm Safety Association recommends that all machines be thoroughly checked over well in advance of their major use season. Follow the maintenance and service schedules outlined in owner's manuals. Be alert to changes in performance while using the equipment. Remember, accidents are most likely to happen when machines are out of adjustment; worn or broken parts are not replaced; cutting edges are dull; and shields and other safety dev-ices are not in place and working properly. Pull -in accidents happen when someone attempts to unclog or feed material by hand into operating 'farm equipment. Machines are simply too fast — they will pull your hand in and mangle it before you can react. You won't be able to pull free once the machine has grabbed you. The Farm Safety Association urges you to recognize hazards that can lead to a pull -in accident, and never, ever attempt to unplug or hand -feed operating equipment. Always disengage power, shut off the engine, remove the key, and wait for all parts to stop moving before attempting to do this work. Wrap -point accidents involving farm equipment frequently result in death. Any exposed, rotating shaft is a potential wrap -point. The wrapping commonly begins with just a thread, a stray bit of hair, a shoelace, or a frayed piece of fabric. In a split second, the rotating shaft pulls the victim in. Make sure that all shafts and connecting devices are properly shielded. The Farm Safety Association urges you to make it a habit to shut down equipment before leaving the operator's seat. You can't get wrapped up by a shaft that isn't rotating!O — Submitted by Grant Collins, Huron Township Director Bruce County Federation of Agriculture 63rd Annual Meeting and Banquet and OUR Regional Meeting Friday, October 29, 2004 Paisley Community Centre Guest Speaker to be confirmed Social: 6:30 p.m. Dinner: 7:00 p.m. Notes: 1. OFA Regional Directors, Delegates and Alternates for OFA Convention, BCFA Presidents and Township Directors will be elected at the meeting. 2. Changes to our Constitution and By -Laws will be presented at the Annual Meeting.