Farm Safety and Health Week observed Sept. 16-20

Published 4:34 pm Friday, September 6, 2024

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The 2024 National Farm Safety and Health Week will be observed Sept. 16-20. Each day of the week will have a specific focus.

North Carolina Farm Bureau ask the public to join in on observing this special week, which includes the following:

Monday (Sept. 16) – Equipment & Rural Roadway Safety. Roadway crashes are a leading cause of injuries and death in agriculture. Increasing your visibility can help prevent crashes and keep the roads safe for everyone. Check that your vehicle has the proper lighting and marking to be visible and safe on the road.

Tuesday (Sept. 17) – Health and Wellness. Farmers, farmworkers, and producers face potentially life-threatening risks from hazards like exposure to chemicals and irritants, wildfires, and extreme temperatures and conditions. Find tips and tools on how to keep you, your family, and farm workers safe from harmful environmental exposures.

Wednesday (Sept. 18) – Generations of Farming. There are more older workers in agriculture than in any other industry, with 1 in 3 U.S. farmers over 65 years old. With age comes wisdom—and new health and safety challenges for those who continue to work and live on the farm.

Thursday (Sept. 19) – Confined Spaces in Agriculture. On farms, confined spaces like tanks, silos, and storage bins can be dangerous. Different hazards can exist like toxic gasses, lack of oxygen, or moving parts or equipment that can cause falls, engulfment, or suffocation. Learn the safe entry procedures before entering!

Friday (Sept. 20) – Reporting Ag Injuries. The AgInjuryNews.org database created by National Farm Medicine Center is a free tool for tracking farm-related injuries and deaths. Collecting information from near real-time agriculture related news reports, this tool helps spot trends, identify risks, and raise awareness of injuries on the farm so officials can better protect farmers, farm workers and their families.