Darcy Demmin
Cornell Cooperative Extension
The
parts of the body most often involved in farm accidents are
the fingers and hands. They account for about 26 percent of
all farm injuries. Add to that the fact that the feet and
toes are involved in about 11 percent of all farm accidents
and one can see that the extremities account for more than
one-third of all farm injuries. The sad truth is that all
of these injuries can be avoided.
Farm
accidents don't just happen to the inexperienced worker. Men
and women who have been farming for years and have a good
safety record can still be the victim of a serious injury
to the extremities. The results can range from loss of extremities
to loss of life. Often, a finger or toe will be caught initially,
followed by a limb or even the entire body being drawn into
a piece of machinery.
The
average farm is full of pinch points, shear points, wrap points,
crush points, pull-in points, and free wheeling parts that
can grab, cut, smash, and entangle fingers, hands, toes, and
feet. The following pieces of machinery are just some of the
devices that can cause injury to the extremities.
AUGERS--Augers
can draw in clothing as well as hands and feet. They are fast
and efficient but can be extremely dangerous if not properly
shielded. Per hour of use, they are the most dangerous machinery
on farms. The sharp edge of the spiraling fluting can sever
or entangle not only hands and feet but the limbs as well.
A proper shield prevents extremities from reaching the fluting.
CORN
PICKERS--The most dangerous parts of the corn picker are
the snapping rollers. Flights on the gathering chains support
the corn stalks and guide them into the head of the machine,
where a set of hardened steel rollers rotating toward each
other "snap" the ears of corn from the stalk. Most entanglements
occur when the operator tries to remove plugged stalks from
the snapping rolls with the machine still running. Unfortunately,
many a hand has been severed because, once the parts.
The
husking bed of the corn picker is another area where hands
can become entangled. In this part of the machine, "fingers"
and rollers rotate to dehusk the ear, and gloves, fingers,
and hands can be pulled into the mechanism. Once the operator
is pulled into the machine in either area, it is virtually
impossible to become freed without assistance. If he is alone
or in a remote location, help may not come for hours.
BALERS--Entanglement
of feet in the pickup area of balers has resulted in loss
of limbs and life. The scenario most likely to result in tragedy
is the operator kicking in loose hay with the machine still
running. If the operator can hang on to prevent his entire
body from being pulled into the machine, his only hope is
that eventually someone will come along to turn it off. Again,
this could be hours later.
There
are hundreds of other situations where injury to the extremities
can occur. Just think of all the chains and sprockets, belts
and pulleys, and hand and power tools that are used daily
on the farm. Equally serious are injuries to the toes and
feet caused by animals. Obviously, a dairy cow weighing one-half
to three-quarters of a ton can crush and break bones with
one step. Yet many farmers choose to forgo the protection
provided by steel-toed shoes.
The
victim of a farm injury also must be concerned with other
matters in the aftermath of an accident. Will the injury limit
his ability to work? If the victim is the principal operator,
he must now rely on hired help or family members to perform
tasks. Is his health insurance adequate to cover hospital
expenses? If the injury involved a hired worker, is his liability
insurance adequate to deal with a lawsuit? No one wants to
answer these questions, yet the agriculture industry continues
to rank first or second in work-related deaths and injuries.
What
can you do to prevent death and injury on your farm?
- Keep
all guards and shields in place. If they must be removed
for service or a repair, take the time to put them back
on. A couple of minutes could save a couple of fingers.
- Wear
personal protective equipment, such as steel-toed shoes
when handling animals and leather gloves when welding or
cutting.
- Shut
off machinery before attending to service, repair, or plugs.
The extra time it takes to shut down and start up the machinery
could mean the difference between life and death.
- Always
be aware of your machinery's capabilities. Flesh and bones
are no match for machines that are designed to cut, chop,
smash, pulverize, and move plant material.
Make
safety a priority on your farm!
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent
NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission
of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
Darcy Demmin,
Farm Safety Research, Department of Agricultural and Biological
Engineering, New York State College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences, Cornell
Source:
Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell University, Ithaca,
NY
Provider: Ag Information Services -- News & Publications,
Penn State
April 27, 1994
Document Number:
28302679
|