What are some rules of being safe on the farm?

Answer 1

Most Farm Safety Rules come with a bit of common sense. Here's a few to remember:

• Be where the operator can see you, whether he is on a tractor, on a swather or in a combine.
• Always let someone know where you are going and when you will be back at all times
• Never overestimate your strength and speed when handling both machinery and livestock
• Always have an escape route when dealing with rouge animals
• NEVER climb over a running/spinning PTO shaft. ALWAYS walk around the machine to get to the other side.
• Place guards over PTO shafts if this ever does happen, or make sure the guards are secure and not going to fall apart on you
• ALWAYS make sure the tractor and/or machine is turned off before you climb in to fix something or have a look at something.
• Check that the machine you are about to turn on is in the NEUTRAL or PARK position BEFORE you turn it on. Also, be aware of what's around you before you turn the machine on OR start moving. If any children are in the area, make sure they are at a safe distance (which is at least 50 to over 100 feet away) and that they STAY where they are. NO exceptions!
• If a child is wanting to go somewhere away from where you are working, make sure you have told the child before hand that it is very important that they tell you where they are going before they go ANYWHERE.
• When working from any machinery, always keep an eye for things that are beside and behind you, don't just focus on what's in front of you.
• Do not wear loose clothing nor wear your hair loose
• Wear eye/ear/foot protection when and where possible
• Be aware of your state of mind. If you are feeling tired, stop what you're doing and go have a coffee break or a short nap. Fatigue tends to be the number one cause in farm accidents and deaths related to farm accidents.
• NEVER get complacent around machinery OR livestock, as complacency is also a killer.
• Never EVER step in the area where grain is being fed out by an auger, as you could get caught up in the auger shaft or get buried alive by the shifting grain pile
• NEVER have children play in a grain bin with grain in it, no matter if it's full or not. I've heard a few stories where some kids died of suffocation when they got trapped in a grain pile that suddenly shifted on them
• ALWAYS keep shovels, pant legs, sleeves, collars, loose hair, etc., away from a running auger or PTO shaft
• Never get confident that hydraulics will always work and keep in place, because they can and will fail
• NEVER TRUST A BULL, though horses are known to kill more humans than bulls are, and NEVER make a pet out of a bull, EVER.
• When children are around machinery loose gates or panels or even livestock, adult supervision is MANDATORY.
• Store chemicals and pesticides away in a locked secure area
• ALWAYS watch the power lines, especially with transporting augers
• Farm machinery are NOT toys, so NEVER let a child climb up in a tractor by him/herself and expect him to know that anything he pushes or pulls won't cause the tractor to move or start to operate. If necessary, remove the keys from the ignition when machine is not in operation.
• Wear proper clothing when working machinery and working with animals. NEVER operate machinery or work with farm animals in high-heels or loafers. Safety boots, tight or regular-fit work-type blue jeans, a shirt and a jacket, as well as gloves and a hat, are the best for working on the farm.
• USE YOUR COMMON SENSE! Often it's better to listen to your gut instinct instead of your intellect. If you are second guessing yourself, chances are it's not worth the risk to take.
• REMEMBER Murphy's Law: Anything bad that CAN happen, WILL happen.