Avoid Harvest Hazards

Get ready for this busy season by reviewing the dangers and creating a plan to keep everyone safe.

- Lisa Foust Prater

A flurry of activity, weather conditions, long hours, and large machinery make harvest season a potentially dangerous time.

Kent McGuire, an ag health and safety coordinator at Ohio State University, said YOU are your most important tool, so it's critical to know your physical and emotional limits, and take care of yourself.

"Try to get enough sleep. Pace yourself and plan your day out the best you can, and take short breaks throughout the day," McGuire said. "Take a short walk. Just do something to get your mind and your body away from the piece of equipment to recharge yourself, and minimize that fatigue factor."

Prevention Is Key

Before harvest gets underway, ensure that each vehicle has a first-aid kit, and a working fire extinguisher rated class BC or ABC, for electrical and flammable liquids. Gather personal protective equipment (PPE) such as steel-toe boots, work gloves, reflective clothing, safety glasses, N-95 or N-99 masks, and hearing protection; then, USE them.

Make sure machinery is in good shape before harvest, and regularly clean dirt and debris from components to help prevent fires.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison recommends creating a daily checklist, starting with these items:

• Are all belts and chains properly adjusted and shielded?
• Are the safety latch, jack stand, and/or other safety locks in working order?
• Do all flashers and lights work? Are they clean?
• Are controls clearly marked? Do gauges work properly?
• Does each machine have an unfaded slow-moving vehicle (SMV) emblem?
• Are warning decals clean and undamaged?

Drive Safely