Did you know that falls are the most common accidents in agriculture? These include falls from ladders, roofs or a piece of machinery. And in most instances, these are preventable occurrences.
The best way to protect against unintentional falls is to stay alert. Your chances of falling are increased by haste, fatigue, emotional upset, illness, alcohol or drugs. It is easy to overlook the hazards in what we look at in everyday life; so it would be a good idea to take a fresh look around your farm or ranch for potential hazards.
While most people associate ladder use with orchard operations, ladders are frequently used for other tasks as well—working around the shop or roof repair work to cite two examples.
Because of the potential danger that comes with using ladders, an occasional review of safety procedures is important. Before you use a ladder, you should check first to be sure rails and rungs are strong, properly fastened and undamaged. Be sure to keep ladder rungs free of debris because dirt, mud and oil can easily build up. Follow all the manufacturer’s warning stickers on your ladder and don’t use a ladder if it is defective.
When you are ready to position the ladder for use, be sure to look above for power lines and all around for other obstacles. For example, don’t position it so that its legs are sticking out into the road. Set the ladder on a good base of firm, even ground and keep in mind that wet and grassy areas do not provide good support.
It is very important to not climb too high. Never go above the third rung from the top of the ladder. Hold onto the ladder by the rails, not the rungs and always face the rungs of the ladder. Don’t over-stretch yourself, and when leaning, keep both feet on the rung or you could lose your balance. Work smoothly, avoiding over-vigorous or jerky motions with your tools. This movement could cause the ladder to become unbalanced and topple or collapse.
One area of potential danger that is often overlooked is the roof, such as the shop roof or the barn roof. Every year there are several mishaps, including some fatalities, involving accidents in which a person either falls off a roof or falls through a weakened roof. In most of those cases, the victim had planned on being on the roof for only a few minutes to do a quick repair.
Here are some suggestions for roof work.
Know whether a roof will support your weight before work starts.
Ask yourself whether the repair work is necessary and whether you or your employees are the right people for the job.
Assess the risks before the work starts and provide the necessary equipment and precautions.
Make sure you have a properly secured ladder for getting on and off the roof safely.
Since 1943, Farm Bureau and State Fund have been business partners. When your policy comes up for renewal, if you are not insured with State Fund, please be sure to get a quote in our Farm Bureau Group Program. For more information, call toll-free at (800) 773-7667, or check the State Fund Web site at www.statefundca.com.
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