IDOA suggests ways to stay safe as harvest season begins

CENTRAL ILLINOIS, Ill. (WCIA) — Sunday marks the beginning of the 80th annual observance of Farm Safety and Health week. It will run from Sept. 15-21.

Governor JB Pritzker has proclaimed that the theme of Farm Safety Week to be “Don’t Learn Safety by Accident.”

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To help emphasize safety during this year’s harvest season and to promote a safer workplace on farms, Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) have partnered up.

Starting next week, IDOA will address a different farm safety related topic each day on social media to help raise awareness:

• Monday, Sept. 16: Equipment and Rural Roadway Safety

• Tuesday, Sept. 17: Health and Wellness

• Wednesday, Sept 18: Generations of Farming

• Thursday, Sept. 19: Confined Spaces

• Friday, Sept. 20: Reporting Ag Injuries

The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that jobs in agriculture are the most dangerous job type in America. Crashes, tractor rollovers and accidents in confined spaces contribute to over 500 fatalities for farmers each year.

“Agriculture is our states leading industry, and unfortunately it’s also the riskiest,” IDOA Director Jerry Costello II said in a press release. “We want to bring awareness to the risks as well as the ways to ensure farmers’ safety during harvest and throughout the year.”

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IDOA asks drivers to practice caution at all times, but especially when taller crops interfere with road visibility. IDOA also asks farmers to remember to display the proper signage on their equipment, and to make sure their vehicles lights work correctly.

“The fall harvest in Illinois is one of the most beautiful times of year, but with it comes the need for increased awareness when you are on the roads,” IDOT Secretary Omer Osman said in a press release. “Now and throughout the year, stay alert for slow-moving equipment in rural areas and be prepared to slow down. Watch for reduced sightlines because of tall corn and proceed cautiously. By staying patient and sharing the road, we can keep Illinois the number one state for agriculture and the safest as well.”

According to IDOA, tractor side and rear overturns and grain handling are hazardous but avoidable. They say to use rollover belts and seatbelts when driving a tractor, and to avoid entering grain bins whenever possible. If it is not possible to avoid entering a grain bin, make sure to bring the proper equipment, and never work alone.

If you need to report unsafe working conditions, or an injury that happened at the workplace, click here. Or, call the Illinois OSHA Reporting Hotline at 217-782-7860. To find more information about Farm Safety and Health Week, visit the IDOA website.

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