WASHINGTON — As farmers busily work on the farm this time of year, National Farmers Union hopes to raise awareness about farm safety issues and best practices through a series of 10 educational videos.
The videos, available at www.NFU.org/farmsafety, educate farm and ranch families, agriculture workers, consumers who visit a farm, and members of the public about hazards and proper safety procedures to avoid farm-related accidents or casualties.
“Understanding the dangers on and around the farm and how to avoid them can make a life-saving difference when operating heavy machinery or working around livestock,” said NFU President Roger Johnson.
Annual deaths
Nearly 500 farm work-related deaths occur annually, according to a 2013 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics study, and machinery accidents account for approximately a quarter of them.
Four of the NFU videos focus on topics related to farm equipment. Other video topics include safety measures for livestock handling, grain hauling and storage, chemical use and keeping kids safe on the farm.
An unfortunate number of farm accidents involve children under the age of 20 — four-in-five of which are not labor related, Johnson explained.
