|
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Take Charge of Your Safety - Prevention is the Best Medicine
LOUISVILLE, KY, March 7, 2008: Every year, thousands of farm workers are injured and hundreds more die in farming accidents. According to the National Safety Council, agriculture is the most hazardous industry in the nation.
Though both the number of disabling and fatal injuries in agriculture and the death rate have fallen during the past decade, its rate remains among the highest of the major industries and about four times that of the composite rate of all industries.
We also must remember that farmers also suffer greatly from traffic, home and leisure-time accidents, as do those in other occupations. Though most farm safety efforts are directed at reducing farming-related accidents, we hope you will also call attention to the need for safety in all aspects of life.
Many illnesses and premature health problems afflict those in farming, mostly because of excessive and/or unprotected exposure to chemicals, toxic gases, field and organic dusts, noise, extremes of heat or cold, intense sun, insects, vibration, animal transmitted diseases and bodily stress from long hours of hard physical labor.
Skin and lung diseases are more common among farmers than for those in most other occupations. Also back and joint problems and cumulative trauma disorders result in much disability among farmers.
Most occupational illnesses associated with farming can be prevented or avoided by minimizing harmful exposures and by using personal protective equipment when called for by the hazards of the job itself and/or in the place where the work is being done.
Farm children face hazards that their urban cousins do not. Most farm families live on the workplace, and children are often exposed to workplace hazards as non-working bystanders or as helpers, performing tasks that are not age appropriate. As a result, several thousand farm children suffer disabling injury and even are killed in workplace-related accidents. In addition, farm children may not be properly trained for their assignments, nor even suited for them.
At the other end of the age spectrum, the average age of farmers and ranchers is above 50, and many continue to work well into old age, or at least as long as they are able, - unlike most other working people who retire at 65 and often earlier. As a result, death rates are relatively high among older workers as they are less able to survive serious injury. Permanent disability is more likely, too. Therefore, avoiding accidents and harmful health exposures is even more urgent for them.
Prevention is especially important for farm families that lack adequate health insurance, as a serious injury or illness could plunge them into deep debt or bankruptcy and wipe out assets they have worked hard for. Also, good safety and health practices reduce the need to call upon medical services which may be inadequate in their communities.
Safety and health begin with each of us and the care we exercise while going about our daily work and other activities. The Kentucky Farm Bureau safety program is intended to help farm people become more aware of the true costs of accidents and occupational illnesses and the impact they have on their lives, and of measures they can take to prevent or avoid them in everyday activities.
For some hints on how to take charge of your safety, visit the Kentucky Farm Bureau website at www.kyfb.com to see articles on inspecting and maintaining equipment, using proper safety equipment and tools, exercise, diet, sleep, stress, falls, noise pollution and more.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT TERRI BRADSHAW
Office 502-495-5191
Cellular 502-718-1164 |
