When you talk to an injured farmer or a surviving family member people are usually not surprised by how much damage a rotating PTO shaft can inflict or that a tractor rollover could crush the operator if the tractors was not equipped with a ROPS and seatbelt.

It sometimes frustrates me that despite good levels of awareness, people often don’t take concrete actions to protect themselves, family members, or hired employees. Yes, training and education helps. But, if you train someone and then choose to leave the hazard in place, expecting people to work around it and to “be careful,” it’s like a game of Russian Roulette—eventually something catastrophic WILL happen!

The most effective ways to prevent costly farm injuries is to change the workplace by eliminating hazards, re-designing tasks, and-or using personal protective equipment. Unfortunately making changes can be challenging. Barriers include time, the money needed to make changes or invest in newer equipment, or finding the right source of protective equipment. But physically removing or proactively removing or providing well-designed guards and safety devices hazards is always the most effective strategy.

Producers and managers often ask, “What should I do? Where do I start? How do I set safety-related priorities? Where can I get the most bang for my buck?” The process of improving safety can be overwhelming. It’s a natural feeling. After all most farms are just as complex as a manufacturing facility or other business with countless processes, machines, and hazardous energy sources.

My first suggestion to people is to simply start. Some people find it helpful to bring in a fresh set of eyes to help you evaluate and prioritize the most impactful farm safety changes. Examples could be a local machinery dealer mechanic, your vet, or even a local high school teen who may have completed a farm safety certification course.

Once you’ve decided the changes you want to make, set some goals so changes actually do get made! I often talk to farmers about how they might “FARM” their safety goals and actions in the same way successful managers farm their land, crops, animals and other resources – by following a consistent protocol that builds in some accountability.

The FARM framework offers a goal-setting method that can ensure results.

• Focus –Choose one specific safety-related change to focus on completing in the next month.
• Actions –Determine the first one or two actions to start change.
• Resources –Pull together the specific resources needed – physical tools, family members, hired employees, a consultant, vendor information, websites, email addresses, phone numbers, documents, etc.
• Measure –Decide how to measure success at the end of the month

You will know you’ve successfully “FARMED” your safety-related goals is you also..

• Involve Everyone –You successfully engaged and communicated with everyone who needs to assist or who will be impacted by the change.
• Met your Deadline –You set an end date to finish, and you made it.  If you missed a deadline—don’t fret!  We all get busy. Recalibrate and reset, and try to get it done next time. All progress is good progress and can save a life!

Example detailed

A dairy producer has a large machine shop. Eight employees use tools and equipment in the shop. But, it’s impossible to locate a clean set of safety glasses when needed. Several close calls have happened during tasks where employees were grinding, using a punch, and cleaning equipment parts with an air compressor. Another case a couple years back resulted in one of your workers spending three hours in an ER leading with an eye injury, leading to a $2500 medical bill. To solve the problem of eye protection “access” this is something to be FARMED.

During a lunch break the producer and eight shop employees spend a few minutes doing some planning together.

• Focus –They set a written-down, focused goal to get one set of safety glasses for each shop employee and an inexpensive shelf or other means by which to store the glasses. The outcome is specific and will make a difference.
• Action –Together they decide how much to spend; investigate the best and most affordable options online, shop for, and purchase the glasses.
• Resources –Access to the internet may be all that’s needed in this example. With more complex projects it’s likely the team will want to work with a professional consultant or vendor. Never overlook workers or family members as vital and highly motivated resources.
• Measure –Decide how to measure completion. In this case that will include having a shelf holding the labeled safety glasses for each worker within a month.
• Everyone –Ensure all impacted employees are informed and trained, in cases where that’s required. Give workers a voice in the process – such as choosing glasses that will be comfortable yet protective. Farm operators and managers should also set expectations and personal examples for each change, such as “safety glasses must be worn at all times when working in the shop.”  With PPE, it’s also good to have some backups and a plan to hold employees responsible if they lose equipment or forget it at home.
• Deadlines –Set deadlines for each step in the process, particularly for complex projects. Those may include dates by which hazards are corrected, protective gear is purchased, workers are trained, and more.

Safety should be viewed as a journey that results in continuous improvement.  A few changes like this each month accumulate over the course of a year. And for farms with hired workers, our research tells us that they DO notice and appreciate employers who care. If not sure where to start, talk with an insurance provider or visit fyi.extension.wisc.edu/agsafety/farm-hazard-inspection-checklists

Adapted from originally published Nov. 12, 2020 in AgUpdate