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Sleep important for farmers, say safety folks

The importance of sleep for farmers cannot be underestimated. During this Farm Safety Week at the start of fall harvest –safety experts say it’s important for farmers to get proper rest. Bob Aherin, farm safety specialist with the University of Illinois Extension, says the science shows that breaks every few hours during harvest and a minimum of six hours sleep at night are important.

“If you get less than that, you’re opening yourself to higher risk of making mental mistakes that can result in injuries,” says Aherin.

The National Safety Council says 80,000 disabling injuries occur on the farm each year and 500 to 800 people die in farm-related accidents.