FARMERS CARE: Life Saving Opportunities

Fall From Height

What could cause a fall from a height on your farm?

Do you ever check bins & storage structures, work near edges, perform work on roofs, work in haylofts, climb ladders, use work platforms or scaffolding, climb into tractors or other equipment, walk on truck decks, walk near an area with unguarded edges, ride a horse, etc.?

Slip, Trip and Fall

What could cause a slip, trip or fall on your farm?

Do you ever walk on icy surfaces, work on wet or oily
surfaces, walk on uneven or rutted ground, wear
footwear with poor grips, find hoses or cords laying on
walkways, find tools and other items laying on the
floor/ground, or walk quickly/run in work areas? Are
there changes in the elevation of the walking surfaces
or changes in the type of walking surface on your farm

(i.e., a transition from an area with a little traction to
one with a lot of traction)?

Respiratory Hazards

What respiratory hazards are or could be present on
your farm?

Do you ever come across chemical mists, fumes, or
vapors on your farm? Could you ever breath in exhaust,
welding/brazing fumes, paint fumes, airborne dusts,
molds from hay/straw/grain/silage, pollen, animal
dander, airborne fecal matter

Hazardous Atmospheres

What hazardous atmospheres are present or could develop on your farm?

These may be an oxygen deficient, flammable/combustible/explosive or toxic/poisonous atmosphere. Could a low oxygen environment develop as a result of rotting vegetables in a root cellar or in an enclosed space where rusting metal or growing fungi have used up the available oxygen? Could silage gases be present
in silos, pits, or bunkers? Could fine dust from feed build up in enclosed areas? What about explosive chemical fumes, mists, or vapor collecting in enclosed
or low-lying areas?

Roll Overs

Run Overs

Machinery

What could cause an injury or fatality involving a machine?

Do slow or oversize machines ever get moved on public roads or highways? Could someone ever use a machine with damaged/missing guards or shields? Does
maintenance ever fall behind, resulting in a damaged machine not getting repaired right away or a machine that should be taken out of service getting used? Could someone operate machinery while distracted, using a spotter/signal person who is not trained, or perform repairs in a field? Could someone have their hair come untied, have on jewelry, or wear clothing that is loose?

Motor Vehicles

What could cause an injury or fatality involving motor vehicles?

Could someone ever drive when there is poor visibility, low light, or poor weather/road conditions? Could wildlife or other animals be present on the road? Do the vehicles on your farm ever get behind on maintenance or not get repaired right away? Could vehicles ever be driven by someone who is inexperienced, under the effects or medications/drugs/alcohol, or is fatigued? Is it possible
for someone to speed/drive aggressively, texting while driving, or not wear a seatbelt? Do spotters ever help park large equipment or hook up trailers?

What types of energy could cause an injury or fatality on your farm?

Important Terms:

Hazardous energy is any electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, nuclear, thermal, gravitational, or other energy that could cause damage or harm to someone or something.
Potential energy is energy that has been stored.
Kinetic energy is energy that is in motion.

Are there pressurized steam/hydraulic/pneumatic lines or live electrical systems on your farm? Could someone repair or adjust tools or machines without disengaging the power, blocking all raised parts, or relieving pressurized systems first? Could someone start equipment while another person is working on it? Could someone work on equipment with springs/coils or cut pieces of metal apart? Could tools or material fall from a roof? Could someone contact a moving belt or rotating part?

What could go wrong while someone is working remotely/working alone?

Could someone have a severe allergic reaction (i.e., to bee sting), a heart attack, experience heat stroke, or some other type of medical event? Could someone be attacked by livestock or a wild animal? Is it possible for someone to be caught in or crushed by equipment, be involved in a tractor roll over, or have an equipment fire? How would someone get help if they are sick or injured and cannot make a call themselves? Could there be a delay in getting help due to distance or if someone became sick or injured at an unknown location?

What could go wrong while hauling or securing loads? Could a load shift/roll/spill/fall off? Could someone decide not use load securement equipment, use load securement equipment improperly, or not use blocking/bracing /chocks to prevent movement of the load? Could someone use weak or inappropriate anchor points, under-rated load securement equipment, the wrong type of load securement devices, or damaged straps/load securement devices? Is it possible for someone to secure a load without the proper training? Could straps become cut or worn while rubbing against sharp edges during transport?

What could go wrong when handling or storing chemicals? Is everyone on your farm trained in WHMIS 2015 and know the hazards of the products that they work with/around? Do children/livestock/pets have access to chemicals (i.e., livestock eating treated seed)? Could a fire or explosion result from improperly handled hazardous products? Could hazardous products leak (i.e., fuel tanks or fertilizer totes)? Could hazardous products be kept in unlabeled or unsuitable containers (i.e., beverage or food containers)? Could a chemical used on your farm have the potential to cause serious injury, illness or death? Is it possible for pesticide mists to drift out of the intended area? Could someone be injected with a veterinary drug or breathe in medicated feed dust?

What could go wrong when working with animals?

Could there be weak pens or damaged gates present on your farm? Could there be unfamiliar people helping/present while you work livestock? Could an untrained or unfamiliar dog be present while handling livestock? Could someone work with animals alone, get too close to an animal, or lose their temper while working with animals? Could a squeeze or headgate not be working properly? Do people ever work with animals in areas with poor lighting or lots of shadows? Could animals be handled in a way that causes them to become excited and fearful?

Have you identified the restricted and confined spaces on your farm and the hazards of the confined spaces?

Infographic: Common Hazards of Confined Spaces (pdf)

Are there bins, tanks, root cellars, manure pits/lagoons, culverts, sea cans, grain boxes, or crawl spaces on your farm? Could substances enter these spaces through
pipes? Do any of these spaces have moving/rotating parts? Could any of these spaces have exhaust, welding, cutting, or chemical fumes present? What about chemical mists or vapors near the entrance or inside the space? Could these spaces have bacteria, mold spores, or dried feces present? Could there be feed dusts, grain dusts or other potentially explosive dusts built up? Could someone inside be exposed to loud noises, temperature extremes, electric shock hazards, or falling material?

Where and when could someone on your farm come into contact with electricity?

Do equipment or high loads ever get parked near or moved under overhead powerlines? Do large items get stored near powerlines (i.e., hay bales)? Could truck boxes, loader arms, augers, or sprayer arms get raised near overhead powerlines? Could a line or trench ever be dug without the buried lines being located? Is it possible someone might attempt to lift a powerline themselves? Are electric tools in wet areas or are extension cords used as a permanent means of wiring? Could someone perform repairs on live equipment or machines without following lock out tag out (LOTO) procedures?

As rewarding as farming can be, it isn’t easy.  Stress, substance use & misuse, violence, harassment, and fatigue all take their toll on an individual and their families.

For more information, check out the other resources AgSafe Alberta has available on our website.