This is Farm Safety Week

September 19th through the 25th is National Farm Safety & Health Week.  Harvest is prime time for farmers and rural residents to consideragricultural safety practices. 

Decorah Clinic OccupationalHealth Nurse Practitioner KristenHeffern says, "Farming is one ofthe most hazardous occupations, and although safety risks are presentyear-round, the demands of harvest increase those risks significantly."

Heffern says it's important to take breaks this harvest season. Just getting out of the cab and walking around for a few minutes helps wake you up.  Taking regular breaks keeps you alert and improves your reaction time."

She also realizes that after a long day on the combine, it is tempting to take some shortcuts.  But she cautions, "Shut down the machine before attempting to un-clog or do repairs, and take those few extra steps to walk around the machine instead of stepping over a rotating PTO."

Actually, however, even though the public hears more about entanglement injuries through the news media, a greater number of injuries occur from falls off of equipment.  Combines are 12-14 feet tall and can be slick due to weather conditions, dust, or other factors.  Heffern urges farmers to make sure they use handrails and keep ladders clean to avoid slipping.

Finally, Heffern says getting enough sleep during harvest is critical.  "Farmers are tempted to work round the clock, but our bodies need sleep.  The time you may save from harvesting without adequate rest will not be worth it if you are injured or worse resulting from sleep depravation."