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It's about safetyBy John Schlageck Kansas Farm Bureau A record year for all the wrong reasons--2007 is shaping up as one of the deadliest on record in Kansas farm country. As of the middle of July, there have been 13 farm fatalities in the Sunflower State, according to statistics by Kansas Farm Bureau. At this rate, Kansas could surpass the 28-year average of 19 fatalities in what is considered one of the most dangerous occupations--farming. Of these 13 deaths to date, more than half--seven--involved farmers 65 years of age or older. The oldest victim was 83 and died while cutting twine on a round bale when it rolled on top of him. However, it's not just the veteran farmers who have become victims to the many potential hazards on the farm. Dating back to 1980, the mortality list ranges in age from 1 to 97 years old. Since that date, 529 people have lost their lives in farming accidents in Kansas. For KFB Safety Director Holly Higgins, slowing this trend is a never-ending challenge. It is also an every day opportunity. While a farm can be the most wonderful place in the world to raise a family, it comes with its own special set of hazards that don't exist anywhere else. "Children and families play, live and work on the farm," Higgins says. "There's no getting away from the machinery." The KFB safety director says this same machinery is always there and it doesn't have a heart. "Farm machinery is made to cut, chop and grind and it won't distinguish between crop tissue and human flesh," Higgins says. "That's why producers must take their time, practice safety and stay out of harm's way." When it comes to the education process of farm safety, she says children and farm wives are eager to attend farm-safety meetings. The majority of men, however, either don't show up or can't wait to leave such gatherings. "Adult male farmers are the hardest to get in a room and talk farm safety," she says. "This should be a priority for all who operate tractors, combines, balers, augers and other machinery." In a recent attempt to reach a large audience with education on farm safety, Higgins attended the Four State Farm Show in Pittsburg carrying her safety message to farmers and ranchers of all ages. There she hopes more men will attend and learn how critical safety can be. The KFB safety education arsenal is filled with a series of displays that are graphic and show amputations caused by various types of farm machinery including appendages torn from the body. "Missing fingers are commonplace among farmers," Higgins says. "We don't want children to see these because of their graphic nature." Succeeding with her message on farm safety has been a long-term goal of Kansas Farm Bureau's safety program. Higgins says the goal is to offer farm safety awareness before a farmer needs it. "Everyone is a safety advocate after an accident," Higgins says. "We want them to think and practice safety every moment of every day." Not enough time and haste are two of the main reasons farmers wind up in accidents. She also believes the reason the majority of farm fatalities are men is because more men actually handle the equipment. Higgins is up front and pulls no punches when it comes to making her point about the importance of farm safety. "Farm safety is not always an easy message for farmers and ranchers to implement in the workplace," she says. "But we're not talking about skinned knees here. We're talking about staying healthy, active and safe in what can be a potentially hazardous environment." Date: 8/15/07
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