HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen Agriculture, 2003-03-19, Page 38THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2003. PAGE A-13.
Older farmers at greater risk Be cautious of the “kick zone”
One-quarter of Canada’s
population is now over 50
years of age. Half of
Canadians 65 and older living
in a private household drive a
motor vehicle. And, drivers
over 80 are the fastest-
growing segment of the
driving population, according
to Transport Canada.
In 2000, the average
Canadian farmer was 59 years
old. Each year in Canada
farmers and ranchers aged 60
or greater accounted for over
one-third (36 per cent of
farm-related fatalities and
one-quarter (24.5 per cent) of
farm-related hospitalized
injuries, says a study done by
the Canadian Agricultural
Injury Surveillance Prog
ram.
The normal aging process
often results in the quick
onset of fatigue, reduced
hearing, balance and vision,
and a decrease in depth
perception.
Also, many seniors suffer
from disorders that reduce
mobility, such as arthritis and
rheumatism, which can slow
down response times and
seriously impact safe job
performance.
All these factors can
increase risk among older
agricultural workers.
And finally, the older
people get, the less they are to
withstand and recover from
the usually severe injuries of
farm incidents.
Farmers or ranchers and
their families need to ensure
that tasks done by older
workers are appropriate for
the reduced physical abilities
that come with age.
Here are some practical
suggestions to reduce risks for
aging farmers.
• Remember that vision is
hampered the most at dawn
and dusk - avoid driving
tractors at these times. Have
your vision checked by a
doctor regularly, and if
required - wear your
glasses.
The aging • process also can
decrease peripheral vision,
which may affect driving
performance.
• Have your hearing tested
regularly, and if required -
wear your hearing aid.
Minimize background noise
by keeping the radio
volume, air conditioning or
heater blowing unit on the
lowest setting.
• Be familiar with any
medication you take and its
effect on your reaction time.
Even over-the-counter
medications can hamper
reflexes and diminish
alertness, limiting your
ability to operate farm
tractors and other
machinery.
With some machines, you
may not be able to drive at
all.
• Get plenty of rest during
planting, harvest and long
work periods. Take frequent
breaks to protect against
fatigue and physical stress.
Drink plenty of liquids and
keep them available in your
work area. Accidents are
more likely to occur after
fatigue has set in.
• Have something to eat
regularly, at least every four
hours.
•Use extreme caution when
operating equipment and
give your task your full
attention.
• Always wear your seatbelt.
• Keep windows clean inside
and out, and use rearview
and outside mirrors often.
• Be alert for obstacles,
especially when driving on
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roads.
• Never drive machinery on
the shoulder of the road and
be alert for parked cars,
pedestrians, cyclists, signs,
mailboxes, and other
objects.
• Make sure that a family
member or fellow worker
knows where you will be
working. Bring a cell phone
if you can, so you can get
help if you need it.
• Know your limitations.
Don’t push your mind and
body past their safe and
healthy limits.
The Canadian Federation of
Agriculture along with the
Farm Credit Canada, the
Canadian Agricultural Safety
Association, and Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada want
to remind Canadian farmers
that “Farm Safety Means
Farm Safely” - know your
limits and those of your
elderly co-workers.
(NC)-All grazing animals
have wide-angle vision, but
cannot see directly behind
themselves - their “blind
spot”. Nature’s way of
protecting the blind spot was
to create the “kick zone”
which is the area that can be
reached by the hind legs with
a kicking motion.
Livestock handlers should
become familiar with the
blind spot and kick zone of
the species they are dealing
with as it can vary from one
type of animal to another.
The Canadian Federation of
Agriculture along with Farm
Credit Canada, the Canadian
Coalition for Agricultural
Safety and Rural Health, and
Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada want to encourage
farmers to practise Livestock
handling safety: Put your best
foot forward.
Farm Safety Means Farm
Safely. - News Canada