Number 1 Cause of Injury to Farmers and Ranchers

Auburn, Feb. 2, 2004--Although the injuries may not be as traumatic as farm machinery entanglements, slips and falls remain the leading cause of injury among farmers and ranchers in the United States. More than a million people suffer from falls annually, with an estimated 300,000 suffering disabling injuries and about 1,400 resulting in death.

Extension Farm Safety and Environmental Specialist Dr. Jesse LaPrade said causes of falls are varied.

“Wet and slippery surfaces in livestock barns and facilities are a major contributor, and mud-encrusted or ice-covered machinery platforms and steps take their toll as well.”

Falls from silos and grain bins or into pits or lagoons affect countless farm workers each year. Many of these injuries result in a serious or permanent disruption of a worker’s ability to perform the manual labor that is essential to the job.

Safety professionals put falls into two categories -- elevated falls and same-level falls.

Elevated falls occur less often but injuries are more severe than same-level falls. More than 60 percent of all elevated falls occur at 10 feet or less above a walking surface. Falls from vehicles and equipment, loading docks, buildings and other structures as well as ladders are examples of elevated falls.

“Same- level falls are generally caused by a slippery footing surface and can be compounded by wearing improper shoes. Working on dry walking and working surfaces and using slip-resistant shoes can greatly reduce the incidence of slips and falls,” said LaPrade.

“Shoes with cleated, soft rubber soles and heels will be least likely to slip, but if the walking surface is very slippery due to fresh oil spills or ice, no shoes will provide a safe condition against slips.“

Trips, another type of fall, involve stepping on an object that the victim did not see, stubbing a toe on an unexpected rise in a walkway or climbing or descending stairs with only a slight difference in the height of the steps.

LaPrade said some factors that contribute to falls include poor housekeeping in work and walking areas or clutter that must be stepped over; poor lighting; carrying an oversized object that obstructs one’s vision; wearing the wrong shoes; walking too fast or running; distractions; and not watching where one is going.

The following general guidelines can help prevent elevated falls.

· Never use the top three rungs of a straight ladder or the top two steps of a step ladder.

· Make sure ladders are on a solid, non-slip surface.

· .Never reach too far to the left or right from a ladder.

· Follow a three-point rule — two hands and one foot or one hand and two feet touching the ladder at all times.

· Never allow riders on tractors, equipment or truck beds.

· Keep entry and exit steps of tractors, trucks, wagons, trailers and truck beds clean and dry.

· Never jump over steps; walk down facing the equipment while securely holding side rails.

· Use well-designed traffic patterns and abrasive, skid-resistant surface coatings on loading docks to prevent trips and slips.

· Use a protective device to protect yourself from falls when working at high elevations.

· Use a device that provides maximum protection without restricting work activity.

Workers should report all slips, trips and falls to a supervisor whether an injury resulted or not.

SOURCE: Dr. Jesse LaPrade, Farm Safety and Environmental Specialist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System

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