NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) – Harvest season often brings an increase in accidents involving heavy equipment on the roads, and with National Agricultural Safety and Health Week approaching, the Nebraska Agricultural Extension Service is offering safety tips.
This year’s theme for National Farm Safety and Health Week is, “You Don’t Learn Safety by Accident.” In Nebraska, agriculture continues to be a large part of the state’s economy. It’s also one of the most volatile and dangerous industries.
National Farm Safety and Health Week is Sept. 15-21. Chuck Burr, extension educator for water and tillage systems, shared farming and harvesting safety tips with the community.
“In the non-farm sector, I think people need to be careful with some of the larger machines. Combines are pretty big these days, they have headers that are 16 to 24 rows wide, so they take up a lot of space. They don’t move as fast as a normal car or pickup truck, so take your time and approach them carefully,” Barr said.
Bahr said it’s not just other motorists who need to take precautions during harvest season: Farmers are encouraged to take safety measures to protect other motorists on the roads.
“When you’re moving from field to field with a combine or tractor, having your flashers on can be very effective in letting the driver know there’s a slow-moving vehicle ahead and that they should slow down and use caution. It’s also a good idea to drive behind a pickup truck or similar vehicle that has its flashers on,” Barr said.
Bahr also said it was important for farmers to get plenty of rest, as fatigue is a common factor in accidents during harvest season.
“The biggest thing is, it’s tiring. Our producers often work long hours, from before sunrise to after sunset, trying to beat the weather before rain or snow starts to fall in the area,” Barr said. “Take a moment, recognize your limitations, and take a break every once in a while to refresh yourself. Even if it’s just for 15 or 20 minutes, stop and have lunch or a snack. Be aware of and listen to what your body is telling you.”
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