The Rural Voice, 2005-03, Page 25for more light as we age, the danger
for older farmers increases under
these less -than -adequately -lit
conditions.
Then there's hearing. Studies
suggest farm workers of all ages
have higher levels of noise -induced
hearing loss than the general
population. Working around noisy
tractors, field and farmstead
machinery and large numbers of
animals in confined spaces creates
hearing damage for farmers,
especially if they don't bother with
ear protection.
Even among the non -farming
population, people eventually suffer
some hearing loss as a result of
aging. ear disease and exposure to
loud noises.
Hearing -challenged farmers who
have difficulty hearing words or
sounds may not be able to detect
warning signals such as the sounding
of a car horn, the approach of a fast-
moving animal, or a warning yell
from a co-worker. In cases of real
danger this loss of hearing might lead
directly to a fatality.
A declining sense of
balance can cause
danger
Working with powerful machinery
and in conditions of less -than -perfect
footing, the declining sense of
balance that occurs when we age can
also create hazards for older farmers.
Your sense of balance is
controlled by specialized structures
located in the inner ear called the
vestibular system. These structures
provide information about the
position of the head and also sense
the speed and direction of body
movements With aging, the
vestibular system becomes less
effective in sensing body position
and movement, says FSA, thereby
increasing the potential risk of falls.
A vestibular system whose
function has been impaired may also
result in the sensation of dizziness in
some people, again putting a senior
farmer at risk for falls. A feeling of
dizziness while driving equipment
can affect concentration. It's also
dangerous to be around equipment
with moving parts or a lack of guards
if you are unsteady or dizzy. Even
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MARCH 2005 21