Ag Safety S.T.A.T. – Safe Tactics for Ag Today

Vol.1, No. 6  December 2008

THOUGHTS FROM THE EDITOR – RURAL ROADWAY SAFETY
HOLIDAY SAFETY FOR EVERYONE
SAFETY SHOULD BE ON EVERY NEW RIDER’S MIND (AND HEAD)
NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR 4-H ATV PROJECTS
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE MONTH
ARTICLE OF THE MONTH: FALL SHOULD BE A SEASON NOT AN EVENT – LADDER SAFETY AT HOME AND WORK

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It is also known that crash victims are five to seven times more likely to die if they cannot be treated in a hospital within 30 minutes. The time between a crash and hospital arrival averages 34 minutes in urban areas and 52 minutes in rural areas.

So what needs to be done to improve safety on our rural roads? The most common elements are paying attention to speed limits, be aware of changing road conditions and contours, and drive defensively looking out for other vehicles and wildlife. It is also necessary to reduce your distractions; these can include cell phones, conversations with other passengers, and loud stereos.  Another common phenomenon of country drivers is “gawking.” On urban highways people “rubberneck” to see a crash or traffic disruption. In the country, people “gawk” at field plots, landscaping, and barnyards.

So enjoy that trip to the country, but also be vigilant to arrive safely.

HOLIDAY SAFETY FOR EVERYONE

The RiderCourse is being scheduled in Columbus and in several other locations throughout the state. County training schedules will be announced in this newsletter, the 4-H electronic newsletter, and at the Ohio 4-H Engineering website at http://4hengineering.osu.edu. Look for more information at the ATV Safety poster session at Extension’s Annual Conference. Questions? Please contact Randall Reeder (reeder.1@osu.edu) or Kathy Henwood (henwood.13@osu.edu or 614.292.0622).

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE MONTH
by Aletha Reshan, Emergency Management Planning and Education Program Coordinator

Cold weather is upon us, which brings our attention to fire safety.  It’s time to turn on the furnace, cut the wood for the fireplace or wood burner, and string holiday lights and decorations. While this creates an image of warmth, coziness, and good times it is also sets into motion an array of fire hazards.  According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), heating fires account for 36% of residential home fires in rural areas every year.  Creosote buildup is cited at the leading cause.  The holiday season itself is also a very active time for fires.  “Each year fires occurring during the holiday season claim the lives of over 400 Americans, injure 1,650 more, and cause over $990 million in damage” (USFA).   To minimize fire hazards during the cold weather months and holiday season remember these fire safety practices:
* Install smoke alarms on every level of home.  Test monthly.
* Extend all vent pipes three feet about roof.
* Change furnace filter regularly.
* Have furnace, chimney, and woodstove inspected annually.
* Use metal mesh screen for fireplaces.  Leave glass doors open while burning a fire.
* Make sure walls around wood stoves are fire resistant.
* Keep air inlet on wood stoves open and never restrict air supply to fireplaces, doing so can contribute to creosote buildup.
* Never use flammable liquids to start a fire.
* Use only seasoned hardwood, soft moist wood accelerates creosote buildup.
* Build small fires that burn completely and produce less smoke.
* Never leave a fire, candles, or holiday lights unattended.
* Select fresh cut Christmas trees that have a sticky trunk and needles that are green and hard to pull back from the branches.
* The maximum time a live Christmas should be left up is two weeks.
* Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
* Do not use any type of open flame on or around a Christmas tree.
* Do not burn tree branches, needles, or gift wrapping in fireplace or wood stove as this can result in a large fire with sparks and embers that could start a chimney fire.
* Inspect and maintain holiday lights.  Use products listed by an approved testing laboratory.
* Do not link more than three sets of lights together.  Wires should never feel warm.
* Make sure decorations and artificial Christmas trees are flame retardant.

For more information on fire safety, please visit www.usfa.fema.gov.

Fall should be a season not an event: Ladder Safety at home and work

Many tasks that need to be done this time of year require the use of a ladder.  Proper ladder selection, maintenance, and use can keep you safe at home and work.

Injury statistics show that ladder accidents are common.  Nearly 300 people die each year as a result of falls from ladders, and another 100,000 are injured.  You might think to be extra careful while using ladders to reach very high places, but in fact, you only have to fall a distance of 11 feet to have a 50% chance of becoming a fatality.

The following tips will help keep you safe when using a ladder:

*  Recalled ladders.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued over 10 recalls of ladders in 2007.  If you don’t send in the product registration card or check the CPSC web site for recalls (http://www.cpsc.gov) you may not know your ladder is defective until an accident happens.

*  Storing ladders.  Wooden ladders must be protected from weather extremes.  Water, especially freeze and thaw cycles, can damage the wood.   Leading ladder manufacturers recommend fiberglass ladders be protected from excessive UV radiation because of a condition called fiber bloom.  When fiberglass ladders have fiber bloom they can trap dirt and grease and compromise the non-conductive design of the ladder.  This eliminates the ladder’s electrical protection.

*  Using ladders.  Select the right ladder for the job.  Folding ladders and extension ladders cannot usually be used interchangeably.  Don’t stand on the top steps of a folding ladder because your center of gravity is too high and falling over is much more likely.  Similarly, make sure your extension ladder has a secure point of attachment at the top and a secure base. When a ladder leans against a wall, the base should be out 1/4 of the height of the wall where the ladder touches.  Measuring that can be tricky.  An easy rule of thumb is to set the ladder so you can stand at the bottom of the ladder, reach out at shoulder level and grab a rung.

Make sure you have a safe ladder by sending in the product registration card when you buy a new ladder and check the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s web site for the ladders you already have.  Inspect your ladders before using them to catch problems before an accident happens.  Remember to store your ladders according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and setup and use your ladders in the most stable way possible.  Follow all of these tips and you can help make sure that the shorter days of winter will be spent thinking about the coming spring and not about how you are going to get well.

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Ag Safety S.T.A.T. – Safe Tactics for Ag Today is an e-mail newsletter prepared by Dee Jepsen, Extension Agricultural Safety Specialist and team members from the State Safety Office, in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering at OSU. The primary goal of this monthly newsletter is to help you stay connected to everyday safety news and activities that may be used in your own newsletters or programs. If you have safety-related questions or program ideas that you would like to share, please contact Dr. Jepsen at jepsen.4@osu.edu
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