| Greensboro, NC: With more agricultural commodities
contributing substantially to the state's economy than in all other states
except California and Texas, agriculture in North Carolina is diverse.
Because of this, circumstances leading to farm injuries are more diverse
and require more specific information to prevent, according to John Paul
Owens, an instructor with the North Carolina A&T State University School
of Agriculture and a survey coordinator for A&T's Farm Safety Project.
"Christmas tree growers in the mountains face a different set of risks
than do swine producers in the coastal plain," says Owens. "Some
of the risks, such as overexposure to the sun and hearing damage, are similar,
but the uniqueness of the different farming practices makes tailored prevention
information necessary."
An example of tailoring farm safety information according to the agricultural
economics of a region can be seen in Watauga County, where David Tucker
conducts demonstrations aimed at preventing accidents common to Christmas
tree growing, such as those resulting from shearing.
"Because you can sometimes shear 800 trees in a day, people become
distracted and tired. That's usually when accidents happen," said
Tucker, a Christmas tree and commercial horticulture agent with Watauga
County Cooperative Extension.
During his demonstrations, Tucker simulates common shearing motions, showing
how a protective leg guard prevents accidental cuts inflicted by the 14-inch
razor-sharp blade used to trim trees. Using an improper trimming method,
cutting across his body instead of on the dominant side, Tucker purposely
slices at his protected leg, relying on the thick fiber weave of the leg
guard to stop a knife which is sharp enough to slice through several tree
branches with a single motion.
"Without the protection of the guard, you're looking at a trip to
the hospital," says Tucker, as he shows the nick left by the knife
in the leg guard.
In addition to improper trimming methods, Tucker indicates that other situations,
such as uneven or wet ground, and hidden obstacles which alter the course
of the knife as it slashes through the tree, sometimes cause accidents
with knives.
According to Tucker, though working with sharp knives is a necessary hazard
of the Christmas tree business, simple precautions can reduce the chances
for accidents. Among Tucker's recommendations are:
- keeping an empty row between workers using knives.
- wearing leg protection on your dominant side and cut only on that side.
- avoiding steep slopes in the morning when they might be slippery with
dew or frost.
- making sure your knife is sharp.
- being aware of your footing and try to keep fields as free of unwanted
vegetation as possible, to avoid hidden dangers.
"Be in control and be aware," said Tucker. "That sounds
simple, but following that advice will help people avoid most accidents."
Tucker recently conducted his demonstration at the Watauga County Farm
Safety Demonstration, held at the Watauga County Cooperative Extension
Center in Boone.
Emergency medical technicians from the Watauga County Fire and Rescue Squad
were also on hand to explain first-aid procedures, and the dangers of improper
tractor operation. Tractor rollovers are a special hazard for farmers working
Watauga County's steep terrain.
The predominance of older tractors, which are not equipped with rollover
protection, adds to the number of tragic rollover accidents in the North
Carolina mountains.
"Historically, mountain farmers use a 'band-aid' approach with their
equipment," said Dale Roark, a forestry aide in the Watauga County
Extension Center, and one of the Farm Safety Demonstration's chief organizers.
"Because they don't want to borrow money to buy new equipment, they
keep their old machinery running as long as possible."
According to Roark, the unintended results of this frugality are accidents
due to using equipment lacking modern safety features, such as rollbars,
and power takeoff (PTO) and engine covers.
During the Farm Safety Demonstration, Extension staff and volunteers allowed
a straw dummy to be pulled into a PTO to show how a loose shirtsleeve in
the wrong location can equal a mangled arm or worse.
Among the audience at the Watauga County Farm Safety Demonstration were
several area youths, many who are already farming veterans.
According to Roark, farmers in Watauga County often rely on younger family
members for farm labor, or hire young people for summer labor.
"It doesn't matter how young you are," says Roark. "Accidents
can happen to anyone at any age. We hope that the young people who learn
about farm safety will practice what they learn and maybe share their knowledge
with others around them and with future generations."
The North Carolina A&T State University School of Agriculture, a co
sponsor of the Watauga County event, is involved in two major farm safety
intervention projects: The Farm Safety Project, and the N.C. Institute
for Health and Safety in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
The Farm Safety Project is, nationally, one of only six farm safety intervention
programs funded by Centers for Disease Control.
The N.C. Institute for Health and Safety in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
is the state's first collaborative agromedicine program, and involves NC
A&T, East Carolina University and North Carolina State University.
In addition the NC A&T Cooperative Extension Program regularly sponsors
farm safety events and programs.
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For more information, please contact Dale Roark, Watauga County Cooperative
Extension, (704) 264-3061.
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