The National Safety Council has spotlighted farm and ranch safety during the third week in September for nearly 75 years. To help celebrate National Farm Safety and Health Week (September 17-23), we’ve put together a list of ways you can improve the safety on your property, whether you own a hobby farm or a sprawling ranch.
General Farm Safety
- Check for fire hazards around your property
- Mark and carefully store hazardous materials
- Keep weeds and grasses trimmed
- Maintain clean work areas
- Establish a safe boundary around fuel tanks
- Avoid wearing loose clothing when working
- Wear gloves, hearing protection, and safety eyewear when necessary
- Work as a team when possible
- Always look and listen
Tractors, Vehicles, and Implements
- Never run machinery in an enclosed area
- Don’t overload trucks, tractors, or trailers (stay within GVWR)
- Identify the proper placement of a load to protect axles
- Move carefully and with purpose around machinery
- Keep tractor rollover protection in place
- Don’t let kids or adults ride on tractor fenders, hitches, or attachments/implements
- Shield PTO-powered equipment drive shafts
- Ensure all rigs are equipped with fire extinguishers and first aid kits
- Put tractors and trucks in park before exiting
- Look around for what you cannot see when driving large vehicles
- Never carry a passenger on a one-person ATV
- Properly maintain farm equipment (check hoses and cables for cracking and wear)
Download a Safety Training Manual
Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences has shared its own safety training manual online. You’ll find information on farm machinery and equipment, handling of animals, as well as safety with agricultural chemicals.
Celebrate Farm Safety at Coastal
Stop by your Northwest Owned and Operated Coastal Farm & Ranch where you’ll find everything you need to add some safety to your farm life, including workwear, boots for men and women, gloves, first aid kits, and equipment.
Coastal Extra: Farm Accidents Do Happen
- Just over 50% of all farm fatalities are transportation related (including tractor overturns)
- 100 serious agricultural injuries occur every day in the U.S.
- 30% of non-machinery related farm injuries happen in the barn