FARM SAFETY WEEK – ADVERTISING FEATURE
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GROWING older on-farm can mean some careful planning is in order to remain fit and healthy.
Older generation farmers need to consider loss of muscle strength and agility, slower reaction times, poorer eyesight and hearing, impaired balance and reduced concentration.
These factors can all make jobs much harder and more likely to cause injury, according to Farmsafe Australia Inc.
Farmsafe asked older farmers across the country to identify tasks that had become more difficult, and ways to make work easier.
Climbing in and out of farm vehicles, working with trailers and changing tyres were major issues. Night driving and reversing were also identified.
The farmers surveyed found four major ways to make work easier.
- The sooner you make the job easier, the better your quality of life. You’ll also get the most from early investment in time or resources.
- Wheels can solve a lot of problems and make moving many things much easier. Think wheels for gates, small machines, trailers and augers.
- Steps and rails make life easier. Put better and lower steps on trucks, machines and buildings, with strong handrails to grab and help take the weight.
- Most changes are not that expensive and need not cost the earth. It’s not self-indulgent to spend a bit on yourself – you’ve earned it.
The farmers also came up with a checklist of tips.
- Better yard design including slam-latch gates to make stock work easier.
- Weld a safe access platform on your tractor to make it easier to access.
- Install a hydraulic lifting device, “ute crane” or hoist, on the back of the ute. Forget the quad bike, get into a side by side, which are easier to sit in and have a passenger seat, roll over protection device (ROPS), and can carry and tow loads.
- A low mobile stool can be great for the workshop, getting up and down or under vehicles.
- Reader glasses come very cheaply in bargain stores and pharmacies. Have pairs in the workshop, chemical store, ute, tractor and for reading the paper or doing the bookwork.
- Visit www.farmsafe.org.au or contact (02) 6752 8210 or email info@farmsafe.org.au
This advertising feature is sponsored by the following businesses:
- Taree Pumps & Irrigation
- Barry Brown Farm Help – rural contracting services
- Nabiac Mowers and Tractor Repairs