It’s National Farm Safety and Health Week in Clinton County, IL! Recognized every third week of September since 1944, this is a week of education and good practices for the upcoming season and rest of the year. Hosted by The National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), Farm Safety and Health Week provides educational videos, webinars, and briefings for both farmers and the general population.
The theme for 2019 was announced as “Shift Farm Safety into High Gear”, which focuses on being knowledgeable and careful while driving in and around farm equipment. As the days grow shorter & darker with fall approaching, and with the influx of families and young drivers starting school, NECAS has highlighted some facts that might surprise you.
- Nearly half of all incidents between motorists and farm implements involve either a left-hand turn or a rear-end collision.
- A car moving at 50 mph has less than 10 seconds to avoid a collision with a tractor moving at 20 mph that is 400 feet ahead.
- It only takes five seconds for a motorist driving 55 mph to close a gap the length of a football field when approaching a tractor or combine.
Here is a video from “Growing Safely”, that highlights rural road safety:
In 2017, there were 581 agriculture-related fatalities according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. NECAS is dedicated to providing knowledge about one of the most dangerous sectors of working-class America, and have created a week-long series of webinars, available at noon on each day:
Monday, 10/16 – “Tractor Safety/Rural Roadway”
Tuesday, 10/17 – “Farmer Health & Opioid/Suicide Prevention”
Wednesday, 10/18 – “Safety & Health for Youth in Agriculture”
Thursday, 10/19 – “Confined Spaces in Agriculture”
Friday, 10/20 – “Safety & Health for Women in Agriculture”
As we celebrate this week of safety and knowledge, NECAS encourages both farmers and civilians to keep these values and useful skills in mind during the entirety of the year.