We have a core value of Safety First at Ridley Inc. which in simple terms is a committed mindset of taking a moment to consider the safety hazards or risk involved in all the activities we do.  I have written about safety in prior blogs and the recent release of the National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2012 (preliminary results) by the US Bureau of Labor has prompted me to revisit the subject.  I am analytical by nature and dug into the numbers.  When I read the summary and looked closer at the specifics for agriculture I asked the question, “Why is agriculture one of the most dangerous occupations?”   

What are the hazards we face in farming and ranching?  There were 345 deaths in 2012 that occurred in crop and animal production.  The total worker fatalities in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector was 475.  

39% of agriculture worker deaths were due to being struck by equipment or an animal. 

We work around equipment and livestock on a daily basis.  The 2 biggest risks with equipment are complacency resulting in operator error, and lack of training or experience resulting in dangerous conditions.  A safety focus starts with training.  Can we better describe the risk involved when we train people to use equipment?  If we are trained to make a safety assessment before we turn the key, it becomes part of the normal process.  The same holds true for livestock.  We have worked around that bull or cow almost every day.  Livestock are biological systems and unpredictable.  Train people to respect that fact and lead by example.   I know this is easier said than done.  I could get back to the farm office by cutting through this pen.  Where is that bull?  Hopefully this blog can be a gentle reminder.  

29% of agriculture worker deaths were related to roadway incidents. 

We must transport feed, equipment and livestock.  Driving is the most dangerous thing most of us do.  The number of distracted drivers is alarming.  Farmers and ranchers are not free from the distractions of modern technology.  A load of cattle or a tractor with equipment takes a long distance to stop under normal conditions.  The opportunity for disaster is multiplied many fold when you add delayed reaction time  due to the use of cell phones and other devices.

14% of agriculture worker deaths were related to falls and slips. 

Falls and slips are under estimated risks on most farm and ranches.  25% of all deaths due to falls were from heights of 10 feet or less.  How often do we walk across wet or manure covered surfaces or find ourselves well above the ground?

14 deaths involved persons under the age of sixteen.  This was out of a total of 19 under the age of 16 deaths for all industries. 

One death is too many and the loss of young person is devastating.    Most farms and ranches are family operations.  Young people are more likely to be involved in agriculture that in other industries.  We must do more to keep them safe.  

The charts shown are from the Bureau of Labor report.  The first is for all worker fatalities by incident type.  Agriculture followed the same general trend.

The Bureau of Labor includes agriculture with forestry, fishing and hunting in the data.  Agriculture is making improvements.  There has been a decline in agriculture related fatalities of 566 in 2011 to 475 in 2012.  However, the agriculture sector has the dubious distinction of having the highest rate of deaths at 21.2 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers.  Chart 2 shows the number of fatalities and rate by industry. 

This is a busy time of the year and we have many things to worry about.  There are items that can save you time, make your life easier and give you piece of mind.  We can visit about them at a later time.  As for now, remember to a few moments during your day to Be Safe.