Farm Safety Practices for the Infrequent Farmer

By Ginger D Fenton

Farms are almost always a busy place, so extra help can be welcome. But who are those extra helpers and what is their farm experience? This question came to mind recently following conversations with dairy producers about contingency plans for emergencies.

Some of the options for covering farm tasks when short-handed included cross-training employees and having back-up helpers ready if the farm family or staff become ill or need to be quarantined. Think about who farmers call on when they need extra help. This may include members of the family who may not be involved with the day-to-day operations of the farm, including a spouse or partner, a high school or college student, a parent who has stepped back from the farming operation, a retired neighbor, or even other farmers. The people in this labor pool are less likely to be familiar with daily operations on the farm.

The safety of these "infrequent" workers is a major concern, as can be the case any time a person is tasked with performing a job that is not part of their typical routine or training. Stress levels may already be high and patience low in a situation that calls for extra help. The helper may receive very little instruction before being put to work, which can make that person uncomfortable, leading to unsafe situations and short tempers.

The notion of women who work away from the farm, are the homemaker, and work on the farm is termed the "third shift phenomenon" by researchers (Gallagher and Delworth, 1993). Concern has been raised for the safety and health of these participants in the third shift due to fatigue and stress from the added work. A recent study of farm women in Saskatchewan reported that those women who engaged in the third shift, which was 216 of the 980 in the study, indicated good general health and performed active tasks on the farm, such as operating equipment, handling heavy objects, working with animals, and using power tools (Elliot et al., 2018). Due to the recent pandemic, additional demands may be placed on farmers with children as they seek alternatives for childcare and involve children more as they perform their farm work. 

Youth, whether they are the children of a farmer who may not have regular involvement with the farm, friends, or neighbors who are looking for something to do after school or while on a break from college, may be called on to help. The findings from a self-reported survey of farm youth and their fathers may give reason for added concern about safety on the farm (Stoneman et al., 2016). Of the youth responding, 49% said that taking risks made farm work more challenging and more fun. An even higher number of respondents, 65%, indicated that they had done something dangerous on the farm that their parents did not know about. With the recent changes in schooling, cancellation of events and the beginning of summer, more youth may be helping on farms.

Some farm helpers may have extra time on their hands and want to work on the farm after retiring from another job or stepping away from full-time farming. The levels of experience could greatly vary with helpers in this category. Safety should not be taken for granted or overlooked with any type of helper. A written survey of farmers in Italy revealed an association between "part-time" farmers that occasionally used farm machinery with specific unsafe beliefs which were associated with farm accidents (Caffaro et al., 2018).  

Here are some things to consider as we strive to keep these valuable helpers safe on the farm: 

1. Make the message clear to all helpers that safety is important on your farm.
2. Have two-way communications with all of your helpers. This includes having a conversation to find out what their skill set includes and what their comfort level is with necessary tasks. If someone is not comfortable, listen to them and provide them with the needed instruction, or find another person to perform that task. 
3. Prepare ahead of time for situations when extra helpers may be part of your operation. Some examples of preparation include listing step-by-step directions with safety practices built into them in an accessible location, having manuals or training materials on hand for reference, posting signs and reminders, and including these helpers in meetings to review farm safety practices.
4. Perform routine maintenance on farm equipment, including making sure that guards and shields are in place. Fix your equipment if wear or breakage has made operation more challenging.
5. Have needed personal protective equipment (PPE) on hand for certain tasks such as gloves for milking.
6. Build the confidence and skill of your less experienced helpers by giving tasks that are manageable for that person. Start small, if needed.
7. Review operation procedures for equipment, including how to stop or disengage. Don't assume every operator will have the same ability. Be sure the helpers know who to call or how they can get help if needed.
8.  If you are the one helping in a pinch, be alert and look out for yourself. Be aware of your situation and your surroundings on the farm. If you have questions, ask them. Review basic instructions for equipment before operating and repeat it back or demonstrate the task to your instructor to reinforce your understanding. 

Some farmers are fortunate to have experienced helpers on stand-by, while others may need to cast a net a little further into the labor pool. Some helpers may be very eager and experienced, while others may be reluctant. Put yourself in their work boots and keep them safe.