Every day farmers use dangerous equipment such as tractors, silo-unloaders, augurs, UTV’s, and power-take-offs (PTO’s), with little more than ‘on the job training’. Attention to safety precautions varies widely, depending on personal experience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2014, twenty-six out of every 100,000 farmers died because of a workplace injury. The danger is worse when you consider many of the family farmers in North Dakota and Minnesota perform this work alone. More than 1,000 of the 4,821 suffering fatal workplace injuries in 2014 nationwide worked for themselves, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The industry learns from a negative experience, evolves and manufactures safer equipment. Today, Rollover Protection Systems (ROPS) should eliminate many tractor rollovers. Similarly, warnings, guards, and other safety measures should eliminate many auger and PTO dismemberments or deaths. Unfortunately, people are hurt or killed because of unused or improperly attached safety items and insufficient safety warnings
UTV’s should be properly equipped with roll bars and cages, safety harnesses, doors, and visible safety warnings. Too often people under 20 years of age are injured or killed when using a UTV on the farm because the UTV is improperly set-up or is missing key safety components.
At Vogel Law Firm, we understand farming is a family business. In addition to the heartbreak that accompanies the death or injury of a loved one, there are economic consequences when a key or sole worker is unable to contribute or other family members must care for them. If you need help after a farm-related accident, call Vogel Law Firm and talk to one of our professionals.
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