Farmers beware of deadly errors

By Mike Deering American Farm Bureau Federation - 02/27/2007

As spring presents itself, so does the risk of farm and ranch fatalities.

A clear and present danger exists that is too often taken for granted. Farmers and ranchers are undoubtedly good at what they do, making it through treacherous weather and mercurial markets.

However, along with being skilled, comes a routine — doing the same thing day after day, year after year — eventually having the ability to do the job blindfolded.

Unfortunately, years of practice depletes the awareness. Getting caught in the routine is synonymous to getting caught off guard, which opens the door for deadly errors.

Nearly everyone directly or indirectly involved in the farming and ranching business knows someone who has been injured, paralyzed or killed in a farm-or-ranch related accident.

In fact, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the agricultural industry had the highest death rate per 100,000 people than any other industry.

Instead of waiting until it is too late, now is the time to become aware of the dangers. Helping bring that awareness to the forefront is the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s Ag Safety Awareness Week, March 4-10, with baseball legend, rancher and Farm Bureau member Nolan Ryan as the spokesperson.

The main ingredient necessary to prevent farm and ranch injuries and deaths is education, which is the primary focus of the week, dedicated to promoting farm safety across the country.

All it takes is making safety on the farm and ranch a core value. The concept is simple, look around and evaluate the potential hazards. If you have some blatant malfunction on your operation that you refuse to fix to save a buck or two — fix it, and a “make-do” repair won’t do. As naive as it may sound, baling wire and duct tape won’t fix everything. The possibility of farming and ranching ever being 100 percent safe is out of the question, but being aware of the dangers will allow you to avoid some costly consequences.

In addition to the tragic fact that farmers and ranchers are being killed and seriously injured, insurance rates are skyrocketing. Insurance premiums are based on history, so each injury significantly contributes to a higher insurance bill across the next three years.

Save yourself some unnecessary costs by making your operation safer.

If you are serious about taking the initiative, the Department of Labor offers consulting at no cost. Check their Web site for details. You will find that you can add to your bottom line and reduce worker’s compensation premiums by 10 percent to 15 percent. Saving some money and saving your life sounds like a win-win scenario.

I know a man, who was a great rancher who was caught off guard. Driving a John Deere tractor to hay the herd in the early spring was a daily routine that ended in death. The mistake made was the result of bad weather and poor decision-making, driving over a muddy dam without fully evaluating the hazards. The man left behind a wife and two kids—the man is my father.

After you’ve seen your mentor, best friend, your dad, pinned lifeless under a tractor at a young age, believe me, your perspective, passion and awareness changes dramatically. Don’t wait for something bad to happen before you change your ways.

— Mike Deering is a director of news services at the American Farm Bureau Federation.