Farm safety begins with eliminating distractions

With harvest ready to begin soon across the midwest, September seems like a good time to review farm safety. The 2024 National Farm Safety and Health Week is Sept. 15-21, with the theme of “Don’t Learn Safety By Accident.”

One area of safety for farmers and the rest of the public alike is reminding drivers each year to pay attention to the large equipment they may be sharing the road with for the next few months.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater shared information in 2023, as harvest began, about the dangers of distracted driving, and how that pertains to farm traffic. He said last week that those tips have not changed in the last year.

“First and foremost, I think the biggest thing to keep in mind when encountering large farm equipment on the roadway is to slow down and be patient,” Vandewater said. “I know it can seem like forever before you have the opportunity to execute a legal pass of farm equipment traveling in the same direction, but take a breath, accept the fact that this is a reality in Iowa, and please don’t chance passing in a no passing zone, for everyone’s safety.”

The sheriff said that it is also important that even if you’re in a legal passing zone, keep in mind that farmers may be wanting to turn into a farm driveway that is hard to see. He said a law some drivers aren’t aware of is that it is illegal to pass within 100 feet of an intersection.

Vandewater reminds farmers that while a pickup following a combine down the road is a good safety measure, even better is to have one in front to radio to the operator of oncoming traffic so the combine might be able to pull farther off to one side to allow traffic to pass safely.

Cell phone use behind the wheel of vehicles or farm equipment is discouraged, however texting while driving is illegal.

Vandewater also reminds farmers to keep in mind how much of a target their equipment can be for theives and vandals.

“Consider parking your combines, tractors, grain carts and semis away from the roadway, or maybe even over a hill, if possible,” Vandewater said. “If someone cannot see your equipment, it makes your equipment much less likely to be the target of vandalism or theft as it sits during the overnight hours.”

The Farm Bureau has several safety tips available for farmers to look at online. Ten safety tips to avoid injury on the farm include the following:

• Note Equipment Needing Repair

• Create an Electrical Safety Protocol

• Always Use Protective Gear

• Inspect Grain Bins

• Invest in Machine Guarding

• Install Roll-Over Protective Structure on Tractors

• Display the Slow-moving Vehicle Sign on Vehicles

• Use Flashers on Public Roads

• Know the Warning Signs of Severe Weather

• Keep a List of Emergency Contacts