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National Farm Safety and Health Week: “Safety first – Avoid the worst”

The health communications officer with AgriSafe Network says agriculture remains one of the most dangerous occupations.

Laura Siegel tells Brownfield, “We know that some of the top causes for these accidents and injuries are related to equipment, as well as machinery and vehicles.”

She says numerous agencies are reminding both farmers and the public this harvest season that safety first helps avoid the worst.

“Even if you’ve been driving these roads every day for your entire life, you never know if someone’s going to be coming down that road in a huge ag vehicle.”  She says, “It just takes one second for an accident to happen. So, keep your mind on the road and go slow.”

Siegel says staying well-rested is one of the best ways producers can avoid injuries on the farm.

“If you haven’t been getting enough sleep, it is just as dangerous as operating machinery, as if you’ve been drinking.”  She says, “So, it’s really important to make sure that we’re still getting enough sleep and taking breaks to prevent these accidents from happening.”

During this 81st annual National Farm Safety and Health Week, AgriSafe is hosting a series of 10 free educational webinars covering a variety of farm safety-related topics.  Click HERE to learn more.

AUDIO: Laura Siegel – AgriSafe Network