The Rural Voice, 2005-03, Page 28A Division of Ultimate Linings
Specializing in
Sprayed -on
' Bedliners
• Permanent bonding seal against
water, rust and corrosion.
• Adds to truck resale value.
• Available in a variety of colours.
• Semi skid resistant surface
keeps cargo secure and allows
for easy loading and unloading.
• Great insulator and
soundproof -mg qualities.
• Environmentally safe: 100%
solids with no V.O.C.s or C.F.Cs.
• Resistant to common chemicals
including chlorine, automotive
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T-ROY'S TRUCK TOYS
& ACCESSORIES - "2 A T"
8454, Road 165
RR 1, Listowel N4W 3G6
Ph: (519) 291-9108
Fax: (519) 291-5974
draulic 'ump
Hoses
Bearings
Hydraulic Pumps
Cylinders
Refurbishing
of articulate steer loaders,
backhoes and
loader buckets.
Line boring
to refit pins.
CO
0
0
BARFOOT'S
MWELDING AND MACHINE INC.
517 Brown St., Marton (519) 534-1200 1-800-265-6224
24 THE RURAL VOICE
walking on the uneven surfaces that
are often a part of a farm worksite
can be more difficult if your balance
is impaired.
As we age, we often complain
about stiffness and soreness. Lack of
flexibility and muscle strength can be
dangerous for an occupation where
strength and flexibility are important
for safety on the job.
The main supportive protein in the
skin, tendons, joint cartilage and
connecting tissues is collagen. As the
process of aging causes the collagen
tobecome irregular in shape, this
irregularly shaped collagen may
reduce spine flexibility and create
pain and discomfort in many working
conditions such as handling the
controls of machinery, getting on and
off machinery or lifting, carrying and
loading objects.
Older farmers also sometimes
suffer from arthritis in the joints of
the knees, hips and fingers. Reduced
Flexibility is necessary
for many tasks
ability to move any of these joints
may limit a tractor operator's ability
to reach and manipulate controls.
Stiffness may also reduce an
equipment operator's ability to turn
his or her head or neck far enough to
monitor equipment being pulled or
check for traffic on the highway
before making a turn.
Reduced muscle strength often
compounds joint impairments like
arthritis, rheumatism, bursitis and
frozen shoulder.
You've got to go on farming —
you're not in one of those professions
that offers early retirement with full
pension at 55 — so what can you do
to protect yourself on the job?
The Farm Safety Association
advises that, just as for young
farmers, your best plan of attack is to
make physical changes in the
working environment to completely
remove or lessen exposure to
hazards, rather than relying on
individual behaviour to avoid the
hazard.
• Start by increasing the lighting
levels in barns and other buildings to
accommodate the vision needs of
older farmers.
• Make sure that all steps, stairs