(Le Mars) — The fatal farm accident in Buena Vista County should serve as a reminder to all people working on farms to be extra cautious during this harvest season. This week is National Farm Safety and Health Week, and Iowa State University Extension Farm Safety Specialist Chuck Schwab says statistically, agriculture ranks as the most dangerous occupation.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/September 2014/Schwab1.mp3{/audio}
Schwab says the most common types of farm-related accidents involve: machinery entanglements, roadway collisions, grain suffocation, electrocution, and even roll-overs involving either tractors, and/or all terrain vehicles. But the farm safety specialist says slips and falls account for many farm-related accidents each year.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/September 2014/Schwab2.mp3{/audio}
This is National Farm Safety and Health Week, a time devoted to call attention to the dangers associated with agriculture. We continue our week-long series today. Iowa State University Extension Farm Safety Specialist Chuck Schwab says agriculture sustains a higher number of deaths per 100,000 workers and therefore is the most dangerous occupation when compared to mining, construction, and manufacturing.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/September 2014/Schwab3.mp3{/audio}
Schwab says there are five categories of farm-related accidents that compile most of the injuries or deaths. They include tractor and ATV roll-overs, machine entanglements, suffociation, roadway collisions, and electrocutions.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/September 2014/Schwab4.mp3{/audio}
Another danger that livestock producers are noticing is the build up of toxic gases, especially in confinement facilities. Schwab says, if not properly ventilated, many of the gases found in a confinement facility can either cause a producer or animals to lose consciousness from a lack of oxygen and suffocate, or, they can also be explosive.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/September 2014/Schwab5.mp3{/audio}
Just last week a pork producer from northern Iowa suffered burns on his body when it was suspected a bubble of methane gas was trapped in the pits beneath the building had ignited when he was powerwashing the barn.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/September 2014/Schwab6.mp3{/audio}
