This is National Farm Safety and Health Week. And as Tom Fricke of the Vermilion County Farm Bureau reminds us, this is a special week for ALL OF US to observe. First, from the point of view of both non-farmers and farmers, drivers need to be watching for each other when farm vehicles are on the road during harvest, which is just about to get into full swing. Fricke says, for those not in agriculture that are driving on country roads, simply “expect” the extra “slower vehicle” traffic, and be ready.
AUDIO: To be slowing down when we see farm equipment; to not be running corners. If you can’t see around the corner, make sure you slow down and stop so you can see equipment coming on those sideroads. And to just take that extra minute when you see that slow moving equipment on the road; look for that orange triangle. It’ll just take you a little extra time to get to your destination, if you all do it safely.
Fricke says the other major point for this special week of caution is for farmers themselves to know when to stop and rest, and know when they need to slow down.
AUDIO: In addition to being careful around the equipment; make sure all the shields are in place, make sure it’s shut down when you’re working on it. Make sure that we take care of ourselves during this busy time of year once it gets started. Take your rest breaks; make sure you’re getting enough rest. Get up and walk around the combine every so often; so that you get the circulation moving back in your lets, and that sort of thing. And if we take care of ourselves, we’ll be there to take care of the farm the rest of the harvest season.
National Farm Safety and Health Week began on Sunday the 17th, and runs through this Saturday the 23rd.
