Farm Safety Week
According to the CDCD, Agriculture ranks among the most hazardous industries. The third week of September has been recognized as National Farm Safety and Health Week. This annual promotion initiated by the National Education Center for Agriculture Safety has been highlighted since 1944. Agricultural workers not only provide the essentials we need, they play central roles in the functioning of our food supply chains.
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Do Your Part: #FarmSafety
Insights and resources offering key advice to keep you protected.
Grain Silo Safety
Agricultural workers are at a serious risk of injury and/or death when installing, climbing into, fumigating, entering, filling or emptying a silo. Because of the nature of the conditions present, workers may be exposed to hazards such as a lack of oxygen, toxic gases and grain entrapment.
Hearing Loss
Hearing loss from exposure to noise is common among workers in the farming industry. Hearing loss is permanent and irreversible that gradually worsens. Employees are exposed to a number of loud noises during a routine day. Fortunately, hearing loss can be prevented. Here's how!
Heat Stroke
Heat exhaustion occurs when people are exposed to high temperatures for extended periods of time without hydration. Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness and requires immediate medical attention. Use these steps to ensure the safety of your employees when exposed to high temperatures.
Pesticide Safety
Pesticide exposure is harmful to not only the employees who apply and prepare the pesticides, but also to the workers who handle the treated crops and soil. Pesticides can reside on workers’ clothing, boots and skin, subsequently exposing the worker’s family members.
Emergency Preparedness for Farmworkers
Farms, like most workplaces, face unexpected emergencies and disasters, which can be natural or man-made. To help lessen the impact of these events, employers and supervisors should develop and exercise emergency action plans (EAPs), which prepare workers for emergencies and disasters before they occur.
Working with Toxic Chemicals Safely
Many chemicals used in agriculture, including fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, animal medications, cleaning agents and solvents, are hazardous to your health. Before you begin working with any chemical, identify its potential hazards, become familiar with how to best protect yourself and be aware of the procedures to follow if an incident takes place.
Grain Fire & Explosion Awareness
When it comes to the grain handling industry, fires and explosions are the number one cause of injury, death and property damage. As the industry has grown and the amount of grain handled at a given facility has increased, the number of dust explosions has increased. As an employee, it is important for you to recognize what causes grain fires and explosions so you can help prevent these potentially deadly disasters.
Grain Entrapment Hazards
In the grain handling industry, entrapment in confined spaces is a real danger. When a grain storage facility empties, it creates a funnel-shaped flow pattern that can bury a person to the waist in fewer than 10 seconds. A trapped worker could be completely buried in less than one minute, and escape is difficult—if not impossible—because there is no stability while surrounded by moving grain.
The Do's & Don'ts of Grain Augers
Though grain augers have made farming tasks much easier, they are one of the main causes of injury and death in agribusiness. Use these reminders and guidelines to reduce your risk of injury while operating a grain auger.
Backover Safety
Farmworkers are tasked with backing up farm equipment on a daily basis, making backover incidents a serious safety concern. Providing proper training for vehicle operators and enforcing proper backing up techniques are the responsibility of the employer. The following tips are designed to help you train your employees.
Rollover Safety
The most frequent causes of tractor-related deaths are side and rear overturns. Because of their high center of gravity, tractors are more susceptible to rolling or turning over than vehicles with a low center of gravity, like passenger cars and trucks. Safe operating techniques and awareness of terrain reduce the risk of overturns.
Safety Tips for Grain Handling
The grain handling industry is dangerous due to the numerous serious and life-threatening hazards workers are exposed to every day. These include grain fires and explosions from grain dust accumulation, suffocation from engulfment and entrapment in grain bins, falls from heights, gas or flammable liquid leaks, chemical releases, structural failures, power failures or natural disasters.
Alternative Risk Transfer With Roberto Rivera
Bruce Droz and Roberto Rivera discuss the advantages of alternative risk transfer and the types of solutions available for organizations looking for different means of transferring, as well as financing risk.
Tractor Safety Podcast
In honor of National Farm Safety & Health Week, Bruce Droz, Alliant Agribusiness, sits down with Max Macias, Alliant Agribusiness, to discuss some of the biggest hazards relating to tractor use, emphasizing the importance of operating tractors safely out in the field.
Pesticide and Chemical Safety
Pesticide exposure cause farm workers to suffer more chemically-related injuries and illnesses than any other occupational group in the nation. Bruce Droz, Alliant Agribusiness, sits down with Max Macias, Alliant Safety and Risk Control, to discuss the importance of a solid pesticide and chemical safety program.
"Smart" Farms: New Targets for Cyber Criminals
The agriculture industry has become more and more sophisticated over the last 50 years. Advances in technology and machinery have expanded the scale, speed, and productivity of many agribusiness companies. These advances have also transformed agribusiness into the perfect target for bad actors. Bruce Droz and Trey Busch sit down with Bobby Horn on the current cyber landscape, the increase in controls and what agribusiness companies can do today to mitigate risk.
Tractor Safety
Tractor accidents are one of the main causes of farming deaths. Losing control of the equipment can result in the operator or bystanders being run over and crushed. Use these tips as reminders on how to prevent injuries on the job.
Mitigating the Dangers of Extreme Heat
Heat is a silent and deadly force that can push the human body beyond its limits. When faced with extreme heat and high humidity, the body's natural cooling mechanism through evaporation becomes less effective, putting a strain on the body's ability to regulate temperature.
The Urgent Need for Grain Bin Safety
Grain bin safety is a serious concern that is often overlooked. Don't wait until a preventable accident occurs to take grain bin safety seriously. With the rise in inspections and regulatory actions this year, there's never been a better time to prioritize safety and protect both lives and livelihoods.
The Rise in Agribusiness Captives - Is It the Right Fit For Your Business?
In response to the hardening insurance market, interest in captive insurance is on the rise. While the appeal may be strong, is it the right fit for your business? Bruce Droz, Alliant Agribusiness, Seth Madnick and Jay Thebaut, Alliant Captives, explore the attributes that makes a company a good candidate for a captive.
How to Prevent, Identify and Protect Employees from Heat Illness
Every year, dozens of workers die and thousands more become ill while working in hot or humid conditions. Tim Leech, John Owen and Steven Meglio, Alliant, discuss the increasing concern for indoor or outdoor heat-related illness, the OSHA National Emphasis Program (NEP) and how to protect employees from heat-related hazards and injuries.
Navigating OSHA Inspections - Insights and Preparation Strategies
Tim Leach and Mark Lillemon, Alliant, discuss the reasons behind OSHA visits to worksites and offers valuable guidance on preparing for unexpected inspections. They shed light on the various scenarios that trigger OSHA inspections, including formal complaints from employees and referrals from non-employers like regulatory sources, building inspectors, EPA and news media reports.
Building a Strong Safety Culture
Bruce Droz and Max Macias, Alliant Agribusiness, discuss the current state of safety emphasis in the agribusiness industry. The two reflect on the important areas of safety programs, such as compliance, workplace wellness, and environmental safety, as well as the importance of creating a positive and supportive safety culture.
Risks and Challenges Around Grain Transportation